Fort William saw a huge turnout in public support on Saturday for work resuming on a new Belford Hospital.
The sizeable crowd, estimated at nearly 1,000 people, heard speeches from across the political divide as part of a day of action to progress a new hospital.
All in attendance were treated to some live entertainment from the Great Glen Swing Band before steering group member and community representative John Hutchison welcomed everyone and introduced the speakers.
Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP Kate Forbes promised the large gathering to “fight tooth and nail” for a new hospital.
“The turnout today sends a very loud and clear message that Lochaber is backing a new Belford and that planning and design work on the new hospital must continue," she said.
“Senior management at NHS Highland must make this their number one priority. To that end I expect them, with Scottish Government support, to do everything within their power to make a new Belford ready to build.”
Following Ms Forbes on the rostrum were regional MSPs Rhoda Grant (Labour) and Conservative Jamie Halcro Johnston, both of whom echoed the sentiment of the pressing need for a new facility.
Community Councillor Patricia Jordan, retired surgeon David Sedgwick and retired GP Michael Foxley also addressed the crowd, explaining the ways in which the 60-year-old facility was no longer fit for purpose.
Highland Councillor Angus MacDonald also spoke.
At the end of the speeches, the march progressed along Fort William High Street to Gordon Square accompanied by the Lochaber Pipe Band.
The existing hospital was initially noted as needing to be replaced in a report issued in 1995. Land was purchased at Blar Mor in 2015 as the site of the replacement medical facility.
However, the Liz Truss fiscal event brought all Scottish Government construction to a halt as capital spending was not protected from inflation, meaning work at Inverness’s Raigmore Hospital, Caithness General in Wick and the Belford all find themselves on hold for at least the next two years.
Steering group members are now urging people to write to the Cabinet Secretary for Health to ask for the inclusion of the design work in the revised infrastructure programme to be published shortly, to get things back on track and also to write to the chairperson of NHSH to encourage them to press the Scottish Government harder and make a stronger case on behalf of the people of Lochaber.
John Hutchison said: "Twenty years ago 5,900 letters were delivered to the chairperson of NHS Highland to counter the proposal to downgrade the Belford – we need that community energy again."
The pertinent addresses are:
Neil Gray, MSP
Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care
Scottish Government
St. Andrew’s House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG
Sarah Compton-Bishop,
Chair, NHS Highland
Assynt House
Beechwood Park
Inverness
IV2 3BW
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