The new £75 million Murray Royal hospital in Perth, which provides state-of-the-art mental health treatment facilities, was officially opened by First Minister Alex Salmond today.
The new building is the first hospital to be delivered under the non-profit distributing (NPD) scheme – one of the largest investment programmes of its kind in Europe and part of a record capital investment programme on hospitals and community healthcare centres that is set to reach £845 million.
The new hospital has a total of 102 beds providing psychiatry care services for adults and elderly patients along with new old-age psychiatry day services, vastly improving the mental healthcare services in NHS Tayside.
Construction on the facilities began in June 2010, with the designs created through detailed dialogue with users, carers and clinical and non-clinical staff, together with a wide range of technical experts.
Speaking during the official opening of the new hospital Mr Salmond, said:
“This government is determined to invest in Scotland’s infrastructure – our hospitals are vital, schools are crucial, and roads essential both to stimulate growth in the short term and lay the foundations for long-term economic success.
“I am delighted to open the new Murray Royal Hospital, which is the first from a pipeline of non-profit distributing construction projects in our health services totalling £845 million, an investment that clearly demonstrates our commitment to improving the NHS and in turn the lives of those who live in Scotland.
“Our capital commitment in hospitals, schools and roads and other infrastructure is set to top £3.4 billion in 2013-14. This unprecedented level of investment, which is estimated to support more than 40,000 jobs across Scotland, is good news for the health service, good news for the construction sector and good news for the Scottish economy .”
NHS Tayside Chairman Sandy Watson, added:
“It is wonderful to see these fantastic facilities up and running with staff and patients in their new environment. The new development provides the people of Tayside with mental health facilities fit for the 21st century and is making a real difference to our patients.
“This project, which has had so much input from so many people with a real involvement in the hospital, underlines NHS Tayside’s commitment to the care of patients with mental health problems.”
The non-profit distribution (NPD) model ensures that private sector returns are capped, that there is no dividend bearing equity, and any surplus is directed in favour of the public sector. The NPD health programme will continue until 2017.
There has been a hospital on the Murray Royal site for patients with mental ill health since 1827. The first buildings were constructed as a result of a legacy from James Murray for the construction of an asylum for Perth and its neighbourhood. Since then, a number of buildings have been added to meet the increased need.
The new hospital main hub building contains the main reception, café, outpatients department and administrative services.