A step in the right direction

, by BHG Editor

Brechin Healthcare Group (BHG) are delighted to announce that their Stage 1 Scottish Land Fund (SLF) application has been approved and they have been invited to apply to the next stage in the SLF application process which is to apply for funding to purchase the Brechin Infirmary site. The approval was made possible in large part by the monies raised to pay for the surveys of the Infirmary building, clearly demonstrating the support from the community for the proposal to develop a health and wellbeing hub on the site. Whilst there is no guarantee that they will get the funding from SLF to purchase the site they are extremely hopeful that the process will move forward as smoothly as possible in the new year.

 

The Stage 1 SLF approval comes with a grant to develop the BHG business plan for the hub and work on this will commence early in the new year. The fully-costed business plan will demonstrate the feasibility and sustainability of the hub.

 

At the present time conversations between BHG and NHS Tayside are taking place on their Community Asset Transfer (CAT) request to take over the Infirmary site. It is hoped that very early in the new year their request will be validated after which they will have 6 months to satisfy NHS Tayside of their proposals to develop a health and wellbeing hub on the site.

 

However, as the Infirmary building has been empty for a considerable period and will start to deteriorate there is a pressing need for the CAT request to be validated as soon as possible. The survey reports indicated that work is required to upgrade the Infirmary building but at the present time there is no major work requiring immediate attention. Any delay in the CAT process will be detrimental to the development of the hub.

 

Grahame Lockhart, BHG Chairman, said, “We are very grateful to the Scottish Land Fund (a Scottish Government Fund) for the Stage 1 approval, to those who are working closely with us to take the proposals forward, and most importantly to the people of Brechin, Edzell and the Glens for their continuing support for the health and wellbeing hub on the site of the former Brechin Infirmary.”