11/07/08 - New emergency care centre

The Scottish Government has approved the business case for a new �95 million emergency care centre in Aberdeen.

The new-build Grampian Emergency Care Centre will provide a 'one stop shop' for patients, by bringing the accident and emergency department, Acute Medical Assessment Unit (AMAU), ward accommodation and the primary care out-of-hours service (G-Med) under one roof at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

Subject to planning approval, work at the Foresterhill site, next to the existing Children's Hospital, will start early next year and the new centre is scheduled to start treating patients by the end of 2011.

At present, unscheduled care in Aberdeen is carried out at a number of different locations - primary care out-of-hours service (G-MED) in the David Anderson Building at Foresterhill; medical emergency admissions in the AMAU; surgical emergency admissions in the surgical wards; and minor and major injuries in the A&E Department - all at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

Nicola Sturgeon, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, said:

"This �95 million centre is great news for the people of Aberdeen and the wider Grampian area.

"It means that for the first time all emergency and out-of-hours services will be brought together at a single site, providing seamless state-of-the-art treatment for patients.

"This major investment also underlines this Government's commitment to new healthcare capital projects in Grampian and across Scotland, built using public money to provide the best value for taxpayers."

Dr Roelf Dijkhuizen, medical director for NHS Grampian, said:

"This is fantastic news for patients in the North-East.

"The new centre will allow emergency services in Aberdeen City to work together as one team and support emergency services across the whole Grampian region.

"State-of-the-art diagnostic and telemedicine facilities will be provided in the centre, to enhance Grampian's position as the Scottish centre for telehealth.

"Clinical accommodation will be provided in the floors above the emergency care centre. This is an important step in the modernisation of inpatient facilities at the Foresterhill site."

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