The development of the new Fife Elective Orthopaedic Centre took another step forward as the Full Business Case for the project was approved by the NHS Fife Board.
The proposed new centre is set to be constructed at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy. Pending final approval from Scottish Government, the project is expected to take around 18 months to complete and will see the creation of a state-of-the-art facility hosting 3 operating theatres, a 33 bed supporting ward and associated outpatient facilities.
The Full Business Case has now been submitted to the Scottish Government’s Capital Investment Group, with formal approval expected in the coming weeks.
At a cost of £33 million, the build would be the largest capital project that NHS Fife has undertaken since the opening of the new wing of the Victoria Hospital in 2012.
The new centre will ensure that NHS Fife’s orthopaedic services are able meet the increasing demand for orthopaedic interventions, like hip or knee replacements, with such interventions now amongst the most common surgical procedures undertaken by the NHS in Scotland.
NHS Fife Chair, Tricia Marwick, said:
“The development of the new Fife Elective Orthopaedic Centre a key priority for NHS Fife and the Board’s decision to support the Full Business Case is another important step forward in the project.
“Over recent years Fife has become a centre of great innovation in orthopaedic surgery, pioneering hip and knee replacement as day cases and becoming the first Board in Scotland to do so. The development of the new Centre will help safeguard the provision of this high performing, essential clinical service for many years to come.
“Despite the obvious challenges over recent months, the project is continuing to progress at a pace and the new specialist centre will secure NHS Fife’s position at the heart of orthopaedic excellence in Scotland.”
