– in the Scottish Parliament at on 26 October 2023.
Alexander Burnett
Conservative
1. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work that it is doing to support the reopening of Insch war memorial hospital. (S6O-02640)
Michael Matheson
Scottish National Party
Any decision on the future use of Insch war memorial hospital will be decided between NHS Grampian and local stakeholders. Once a decision is made, the Scottish Government can consider what support can be offered. I met the community on 3 May this year and encouraged the group to remain engaged with the health and social care partnership as it develops its plans for local services.
Alexander Burnett
Conservative
Insch war memorial hospital closed at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. Despite the efforts of the local community and the manifesto promise of the former First Minister, it has not yet reopened. Given the Scottish Government’s commitment to spend an extra £100 million per year to reduce waiting times, is the Cabinet secretary prepared to spend a small percentage of that sum in funding the operating costs of a new modular 12-bed unit at Insch? That would not only significantly reduce pressures on other local health services but would allow beds to be freed up at Aberdeen royal infirmary and, in turn, allow overdue operations to take place.
Michael Matheson
Scottish National Party
Any plans that the local health board has on use of Insch war memorial hospital are a matter for local partners, who should decide on the best configuration to meet local health needs. Alexander Burnett will recognise that the £100 million that we are investing in tackling waiting lists—it will be £300 million over the next three years—is revenue funding and not capital funding, so it cannot be used for the purpose that he has highlighted. He will also be aware of the challenge that we face in respect of his colleagues at Westminster having cut our capital grant, which means that there is less capital available to invest in our national health service estate and in capital projects right across the country. He might want to encourage his colleagues at Westminster to increase capital expenditure to allow us to invest in such facilities in the future.
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