'Transformational' new bridge linking Aberdeen hospitals hailed

A new bridge linking hospitals in Aberdeen has been hailed as "transformational" by NHS Grampian staff.

The Baird Family Hospital, which is currently under construction at the Foresterhill Health Campus, is connected to both Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital.

Work remains ongoing at the site of the new Baird Family Hospital, which is part of a £261.1million development along with The ANCHOR Project.

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It will result in two new buildings being opened on the site to support and enhance the provision of clinical care, with both buildings set to include state-of-the-art research and teaching facilities and offer person-centred care.

Project nurse Margaret Meredith said: "We have a layout in NHS Grampian where all our main hospitals – Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI), The Baird Family Hospital, the Matthew Hay Building and Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital (RACH) – will be next to each other. The link bridge allows us to take full advantage of this.

"It will provide an internal connection from The Baird Family Hospital to ARI and RACH to ensure services such as x-ray, nuclear medicine and intensive care are readily available.

"The bridge enables timely transfer for those requiring care within ARI. This will support a more seamless delivery of care and reduce the impact on ambulance services.

"Currently, for example, if a patient needs to go from Aberdeen Maternity Hospital (AMH) to ARI, we require an ambulance or the Scottish Neonatal Transport Service to transfer them."

Project midwife Jayne Forrest added: "Women and babies can be transferred from the ward or department in the Baird to other areas of ARI and RACH within minutes across the link bridge."

Jayne added: "Access to the retail outlets and cafes in ARI and RACH will enhance experiences. These outlets currently comprise of food outlets, newsagents, clothing and accessories shop and cafes."

Dr Mike Munro, clinical lead for The Baird Family Hospital Project added that the link bridge will have benefits for training too.

He said: "It will also allow the paediatricians that currently work in RACH and AMH to collaborate in terms of teaching and research - something that was more difficult to do, due to the distance between RACH and AMH."