Hundreds protest over delays to new hospital

Hundreds of people turned out for the weekend's protest in Fort William

Hundreds of people marched through Fort William on Saturday to express their frustration at delays in building a new hospital for Lochaber.

A replacement for the 60-year-old Belford was first suggested in the 1990s.

Work at a site in the Blar Mhor area near Caol was due to begin this year, with an aim to have the hospital completed in 2028.

But the plans were put on hold in January due to a cut in Scottish government funding.

Among the protestors was David Sedgwick, a consultant surgeon at the Belford for more than 20 years.

He said the hospital served a vital role in Lochaber.

"It is very important because you are two hours from Inverness, where the biggest district general hospital is, and we are two-and-a-half hours from Glasgow in the other direction," he said.

"So local people, some who are travelling for two hours to get to us, would then have to travel for another two hours.

"That's not acceptable for routine medical and surgical procedures."

Mr Sedgwick said the Belford was designed in the 1950s and built in the 1960s, adding the only significant changes were made in 1998 to the accident and emergency department.

The Belford Hospital is more than 60 years old

The Scottish government said funding from the UK government was being reduced by more than £1.3bn between now and 2027-28, which had resulted in a pause of new NHS building projects in Scotland.

A spokesperson said an emphasis would be made on addressing a backlog in maintenance and essential equipment replacement.

NHS Highland said it was disappointed at the delay to the new hospital in Fort William, adding that the voice of the community needed to be heard.

A spokesperson said the health board would continue to engage with the local community and Scottish government over plans for the hospital.