Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, has said the responses she has received from the Scottish Government about the u-turn on the new Barra hospital are “deeply unsatisfactory” and added “They leave the impression there is absolutely no back-up plan or sense of urgency about meeting Barra’s needs.”
The Scottish Government has declined to put any timescale on provision of health care facilities on Barra following its decision to abandon existing plans for a replacement hospital.
In response to written questions tabled by Mrs Grant, Health Secretary Michael Matheson said only that they “remained committed to delivery of quality health and care facilities on Barra.”
The MSP had asked for “current proposals and timescales for the replacement hospital, dental clinic and GP unit on the Isle of Barra” and for “a ministerial statement in order to provide a detailed update to the Parliament on these matters.”
The Health Secretary replied “The Outline Business Case for the provision of new health facilities at the Barra Health and Social Care Hub has been submitted. However detailed design work on the proposals has been unable to start due to the budgetary pressure across the capital investment programme.
“Scottish Government officials will engage with NHS Western Isles and the Scottish Futures Trust to consider the timing of the construction and will work closely with partners to identify alternative options.”
Mrs Grant also asked about prospects for the new school campus which was part of the “hub” concept. Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth replied “The procurement route for the school and leisure element of the campus is the decision of the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, this is currently being procured by the local authority through hub North Scotland. The project is expected to be delivered by April 2026.”
The answers leave Barra in the dark about what happens next to the replacement for St Brendan’s Hospital which was first promised by Nicola Sturgeon as Health Secretary in 2008.
Despite serious misgivings on Barra, the hospital plans were later incorporated into the Scottish Government’s Public-Private “hub” model which lumped together a wide range of public services in one large campus, before last month’s bombshell.
Mrs Grant also received a letter of response from Mr Matheson (attached) about the hospital which claims “the Scottish Government’s ability to fund capital projects has been affected by a reduction in the amount of capital grant from the UK Government over the next two years, and unprecedented levels of inflation as a result of Covid, Brexit, uncertainty in the supply chain and the war in Ukraine.”
She said “This must be their stock response now as they are using the same excuses for failing to dual the A9. They say other partners, including the Scottish Futures Trust quango which they set up in 2008, may wish to proceed without the Health Board, which they fund.
“You really could not make this up. They have turned their backs on Barra and unfortunately their own MP and MSP appear content to let them do this.”
The written answers are copied below.
SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT
WRITTEN ANSWER
6 June 2023
Index Heading: Education and Justice
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish Labour Party): To ask the Scottish Government how much the Barra and Vatersay Community Campus project has cost to date, and what future funding provision it has made for its delivery.
S6W-18120
Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government does not hold information on how much the Barra and Vatersay Community Campus project has cost to date – this information is held by Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar.
Initial design and development costs have been incurred on the school and community element of the project, which is being delivered through the Learning Estate Investment Programme.
These upfront project costs have been paid by the local authority and will form part of the total project costs, up to 50% of which will be funded by the Scottish Government through the Learning Estate Investment Programme’s outcome based funding model mechanism.
SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT
WRITTEN ANSWER
6 June 2023
Index Heading: Health and Social Care
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish Labour Party): To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the current (a) proposals and (b) timescales for the provision of a replacement (i) hospital, (ii) dental clinic and (iii) GP unit on the Isle of Barra, and whether it will propose scheduling a ministerial statement in order to provide a detailed update to the Parliament on these matters.
S6W-18121
Michael Matheson: The Scottish Government remain committed to delivery of quality health and care facilities on Barra. However, the Scottish Government’s ability to fund capital projects has been affected by a reduction in the amount of capital grant from the UK Government over the next two years, and unprecedented levels of inflation as a result of Covid, Brexit, uncertainty in the supply chain and the war in Ukraine.
The Outline Business Case for the provision of new health facilities at the Barra Health and Social Care Hub has been submitted, however detailed design work of the proposals has been unable to start due to the budgetary pressures across the capital investment programme.
Scottish Government officials will engage with NHS Western Isles and the Scottish Futures Trust to consider the timing of the construction and will work closely with partners to identify alternative options.
SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT
WRITTEN ANSWER
6 June 2023
Index Heading: Education and Justice
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish Labour Party): To ask the Scottish Government which elements of the Barra and Vatersay Community Campus project it now plans to deliver through the contract with hub North Scotland, and within what timescale.
S6W-18122
Jenny Gilruth: The procurement route for the school and leisure element of the campus is the decision of the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, this is currently being procured by the local authority through hub North Scotland.
The project is expected to be delivered by April 2026.