New midwifery unit set to be built at Wick hospital
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
The general manager of Caithness General Hospital expressed her delight over a new midwifery unit soon to be built at the Wick site that will "greatly improve facilities and access to care".
NHS Highland announced today that Caithness firm GMR Henderson has been awarded the construction contract to refurbish the Queen Elizabeth West Wing at CGH to create a new community midwifery unit.
Pam Garbe said: “On behalf of the team at Caithness General Hospital, we are delighted to have received this funding which will improve services locally to meet the changing needs in health care. The expansion and development of the emergency and the outpatient departments will greatly improve facilities and access to care.”
The new facility will have a separate entrance and will include a birthing unit, outpatient clinic rooms and scanning room, providing a one-stop shop for women and their babies for antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care.
The project has been designed and managed by the NHS Highland Estates team, with specialist input from consultants CDMM and Thomson Gray. Construction is due to start on site within the next fortnight.
NHS Highland’s head of estates, Eric Green, said: “We are delighted to award this important contract to a Caithness firm, providing a much-needed boost to the local economy during these difficult times. We are working closely with GMR Henderson to achieve a completion date of March 2021.”
GMR’s managing director Gerry Henderson said: “We are delighted to secure the contract from NHS Highland to develop the new community midwifery unit at Caithness General Hospital. We will use local subcontractors on this project, including four apprentices, highlighting our shared commitment in providing opportunities for young people in Caithness."
NHS Highland received £800,000 of capital funding from the Scottish Government in May 2020 for the creation of the community midwifery unit and an upgrade and expansion of the emergency department at the hospital, following a visit to the area by Scotland's health secretary Jeane Freeman.
Ms Freeman said: “It is essential women in Scotland, including those in more remote and rural areas, receive a safe, high-quality service from our NHS. That is why we invested £800,000 to help substantially upgrade the provision of services in both the maternity and the A&E departments of Caithness General, which we know is an important and valuable hospital.”
“The proposed new community midwifery unit will continue to provide high-quality, safe maternity care for women locally, tailored around individual need, and provide this care in a new and comfortable environment.
“I am sure patients, their families and, of course, hospital staff will benefit from the extra space and additional facilities.”
The emergency department expansion and associated outpatient department move are being undertaken by NHS Highland’s estates team. Six outpatient clinic rooms were created last year with enhanced ophthalmology services, and a new waiting area and reception is under way.
Work started in the emergency department last month and will be carried out on a phased basis to allow essential clinical services to continue.
Laura Menzies, team lead midwife for Caithness, said: "I am delighted with the investment by Scottish Government and NHS Highland in Caithness maternity services. The team look forward to welcoming women to our new, purpose-designed community midwifery unit.
“The unit has been created as one facility to encompass antenatal clinics, scanning facility, assessment and triage space, parent education area and birthing room. I am very happy to have local contractor GMR Henderson appointed to this project, and look forward to working with them to create a unit befitting our future local maternity services.”
Supporting Wick hospital through the pandemic
