NHS Grampian gives formal approval for £163m Aberdeen health centres

The outline business case for the construction of two health facilities in Aberdeen has been agreed, though the final cost has risen by £13.7 million due to “design complexities and site conditions”.The NHS Grampian Board gave its formal approval yesterday to the project to deliver the new Baird Family Hospital and ANCHOR Centre at the city’s Foresterhill Health Campus.But while the project was proposed to be delivered for £150m when it was initially announced in August 2015, the Board now expects the development to cost £163m.A report which was considered by the Board prior to its approval stated: “The previously reported project budget was £150m. As a result of design complexities and site conditions identified during the preparation of the outline business case, this has increased to £163.7m. This increase is required to meet the clinical brief, deal with the site conditions and deliver world-class buildings for clinical reasons.”The significant milestone will allow the project to be formally considered by the Capital Investment Group, Scottish Government Health and Social Care Directorate, later this month.The new facilities will help modernise patient care and facilities at the Foresterhill Health Campus, which is Europe’s biggest healthcare site, and is part of NHS Grampian’s £300m investment in new or upgraded facilities across the North East.