Austin-Smith:Lord were appointed as Lead Consultant for the NHS Highland to build a new £6.2m hospital in Bonar Bridge on a Greenfield site in Sutherland to replace Migdale Hospital.

The hospital is designed to provide treatment for elderly care and includes 22 inpatient beds, 12 of which are designed to EMI standards.

The University of Stirling’s Dementia Services Development Centre provided guidance on the hospital design and their recommendations assisted in the choice of colours, fixtures, materials and lighting strategy.

Sutherland Access Panel would like to highlight the ease of access throughout the hospital and the way that access although secure is easy to negotiate by disabled members of the community. From the time that a disabled person arrives and parks their car, the flow through the hospital is clear and easy to follow, unlike some hospitals where people need escorts to be able to find their way around. We would also like the thank those involved in the garden design as these have also been designed disabled friendly, something that most projects overlook.

A Dawson – Secretary, Sutherland Access Panel