'This new hospital is going to make a real difference to the local area and people who live here'.

Infrastructure Secretary Michael Matheson visited the construction site of the new £70 million East Lothian Community Hospital in Haddington to launch this year's Scottish Government Infrastrucutre Programme report on new building projects completed in the last year.  He met new East Lothian Director of Health and Social Care Alison Madcondald, East Lothian Council Chief Executive Angela Leitch, Philip Galbraith (Morrison Construction) and Paul McGirk (Hub South East) to inspect the build and visit the completed phases of the hospital. He was very impressed with the new build and said that he felt that the new hospital is going to make a real difference to the local area and people who live here'.

East Lothian Health and Social Care Director, Alison Macdonald, said:

“This hospital has been long awaited and will bring huge benefits for patients and carers in East Lothian. In particular, it will enable people to have a range of procedures in a brand new, purpose-built hospital for which they previously had to travel to Edinburgh or further afield. We are also planning to host a range of new procedures and treatments previously not available in the area.

“Being able to receive care closer to home and in a community setting is really important in terms of the positive impact it will have for patients and carers. It will make a big difference to local health care in East Lothian.”

Morrison Construction, Project Director, Philip Galbraith, said:

‘‘We are delighted to welcome Mr Matheson to site and show him the modern healthcare facilities we will successfully deliver for the East Lothian community.

‘‘Our experienced team continues to make significant progress on internal and external works for the three-storey inpatients department and accommodation building. The project is on schedule, with last phase of works, including the construction of a new car park, set for completion in early 2020.’’

Published: Thursday, 18th April 2019