Moray Council: Call for a new Elgin health centre to also serve Bughead and Hopeman
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A plea is being made to NHS Grampian for a new medical centre in Elgin.
Two Moray councillors – Sandy Keith and John Cowe – believe a health centre at the former Spynie Hospital could serve Elgin’s growing population as well as other patients living along the coast.
The site, they argue, is close to the new Findrassie housing development to the north of the town.
In addition, it could also cater for patients from Burghead and Hopeman who are at risk of losing their GP surgeries.
The councillors are writing a joint letter to NHS Grampian asking them to consider their proposal.
Cllr Keith (Elgin North, Labour) said: "If we look at Findrassie, there is no proposal for a health facility in that area.
"This is an opportunity to have a health hub that can be reached by patients in Burghead and Hopeman, and serve those in Elgin North.
"It’s a glaring issue. There must be the possibility of getting GPs and other care professionals for a health centre at Spynie."
Burghead and Hopemen used to be served by branch surgeries run by the Moray Coast Medical Practice in Lossiemouth.
Both branches were closed at the beginning of the Covid pandemic because of concerns about social distancing. Neither has since been reopened despite strong community support for each of them.
A consultation to shut them permanently recently concluded. Moray Integration Joint Board is expected to make a decision on their future early next year.
A £170,000 refurbishment of the Lossiemouth health centre is being proposed as a way to deal with the extra patients from the coastal communities.
However there are no direct bus services from Burghead to Lossiemouth, and a round trip via Elgin can take three hours.
In addition, while patients can register with GPs in Elgin, there are already pressures on the various practices existing within the town.
Cllr Cowe (Hopeman and Laich, Independent) maintains the best solution would be to continue to have surgeries open in Burghead and Hopeman.
However, if they are to close, he believes a health centre at Spynie would at least be of some help to patients living on the coast.
Cllr Cowe said: "You can get the bus from Burghead into Elgin in 20 minutes.
"If there was a medical centre at Spynie it could serve those who struggle to get to Lossiemouth."
Spynie Hospital closed to patients in 2006 and the building has since been demolished.
Moray Council had a plan to build 62 affordable houses on the Elgin site.
However this were withdrawn earlier this month as it was not thought to be the best uses of housing funds.
An NHS Grampian spokesperson the situation in and around Elgin is being investigated.
The spokesperson added: "We recognise the plan for housebuilding over the next 10 years is extensive and we will need to respond to that.
"A scoping exercise to look at capacity – both premises and services – is to be progressed for both Elgin North and Elgin South, and the health and social care partnership are already having discussions about progressing this work."
