Health & Social Care Moray (HSCM) has welcomed the next stage in the major refurbishment of the adult mental health admission ward at Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin, planned to progress during the 2026/27 financial year.
Ward 4, which is managed by HSCM, is an 18-bed inpatient unit providing assessment, treatment and care for adults experiencing significant mental ill health.
Work to upgrade the ward been a longstanding priority for HSCM and NHS Grampian. The improvement project is now moving forward after a business case was approved in principle by the NHS Grampian Asset Management Group, pending procurement of a contractor to enable the overall programme and project costs to be finalised.
Preparatory work is underway to develop the detailed design for the refurbishment, which will modernise the ward, improve patient safety, and create a more therapeutic environment for patients, staff, and visitors.
A professional design team has been appointed and has begun working with key stakeholders to develop detailed proposals. These will aim to keep disruption on the ward to a minimum and may involve completing the project in phases, as well as temporary changes to how the service operates. Care, support and treatment for people experiencing mental ill health will continue to be provided locally throughout the refurbishment. Planning will also ensure that disruption to other services on the Dr Gray’s site is minimised, including mental health services provided from Pluscarden Clinic.
Judith Proctor, Chief Officer of HSCM, said: “This refurbishment will make a real difference for everyone on Ward 4. It will create a modern, safe, and welcoming space that better supports recovery and wellbeing, while respecting people’s privacy and dignity.”
Alasdair Pattinson, Dr Gray’s Hospital General Manager, added: “We know this work will need to be carefully planned, and we are committed to keeping disruption to a minimum. We look forward to continuing to work closely with patients, families, staff, and partner services throughout the project as plans develop.”
