Further delay to new Lochaber hospital 'depressing'

Plans for a new Belford Hospital have been further delayed

Concerns have been raised about a further delay to a new hospital in Lochaber due to a cut in Scottish government funding.

Scottish health boards have been told no money is available for new construction projects for two years.

NHS Highland said new capital projects, including the replacement for the Belford Hospital in Fort William, were now on hold.

Former Highland Council leader Michael Foxley, who has campaigned for almost 20 years for a new hospital, described the news as “depressing”.

Plans for a new Belford Hospital have been repeatedly hit by delays.

The Scottish government said it faced an extremely difficult financial situation, and its focus was on addressing backlog maintenance and replacing essential equipment.