WORK has officially started on East Lothian’s new £70 million hospital, which should open within the next two years.

The East Lothian Community Hospital was given the go ahead by East Lothian Council in March last year, with work getting under way late last year.

Shona Robison MSP, the country’s health secretary, has now visited Haddington to officially start the work at the hospital – but faced criticism that it had taken a decade to get the project, on the site of the existing Roodlands Hospital, off the ground.

The cabinet secretary for health, wellbeing and sport said: “This is an important step forward for the community in East Lothian, and with work now under way we are a step closer to seeing this vital new facility become a reality.

“The Scottish Government is investing over £2 billion in Scotland’s health infrastructure between 2013-14 and 2017-18. Our investment in these new facilities will help us to achieve our ambition of transforming the way health and social care services are delivered, keeping NHS Scotland at the forefront of delivering world-class care.”

Also on hand was David Small, chief officer of East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership.

He described it as “an extremely exciting time” for the county’s communities.

He added: “The new facilities will see a return of some services to East Lothian, with an increase of 60 per cent of inpatient beds.

“Having been shaped with the help of our patients, this project will allow our staff to continue to provide safe, effective healthcare and rehabilitation.

“Throughout the extensive planning process we listened to what mattered most to people and, with the invaluable input of the community, patients and their families, third-sector organisations and staff, we will have a facility we can be proud of.”

The redevelopment of the hospital site is being undertaken in partnership with Hub South East Scotland Ltd, with Morrison Construction appointed as the preferred phase one contractor.

Discussions about the creation in the county of a new hospital, which will not feature an accident and emergency department, have been ongoing for a number of years.

Iain Gray, the county’s MSP, was pleased to see things moving forward but felt the hospital was long overdue.

He said: “You do have to admire Shona Robison’s chutzpah in turning up to cut the sod.

“My message to her would be: ‘Welcome to East Lothian, cabinet secretary, but you are 10 years late.’

“To make matters worse, it is not just the hospital sod she is cutting, but hospital services too. Ms Robison herself has repeatedly backed NHS Lothian’s decision to axe day surgery under general anaesthetic, despite the protestations of staff and local people.

“It means thousands of local people every year will now have to travel to Edinburgh, or even Livingston, to access some services currently available at Roodlands.

“I’m glad we will soon have the new hospital in Haddington, but it is so disappointing we have had to wait so long, and cannot have the full range of services we currently do.”

The county’s MP, George Kerevan, was delighted to see “another milestone passed”.

He added: “I congratulate NHS Lothian and East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership for bringing this project to fruition and the Scottish Government for making available the £70m investment required.

“The new hospital will be a significant modern addition to the local healthcare facilities.”