Belford Hospital is the NHS rural general hospital serving Fort William and the wider Lochaber area, based on Belford Road, PH33 6BS, and reachable on 01397 702481. It runs a 24-hour accident and emergency department alongside a minor injuries unit, and it’s particularly well known for treating trauma from mountain and hillwalking accidents given its location in what’s often called the outdoor capital of the UK. This guide covers what services Belford Hospital offers, how to get there, what a visit actually costs, and what to know about the long-running plan to replace the building itself.
What is Belford Hospital
Belford Hospital, known locally simply as “the Belford”, first opened in 1865, funded by a legacy from Andrew Belford, and the current building dates from 1965. It’s managed by NHS Highland and classed as a Rural General Hospital, a model the Belford helped pioneer alongside places like Caithness General in Wick, with formal clinical networks linking it to specialist surgical teams at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness and teaching hospitals in Glasgow.
With more than 10,000 admissions a year, according to reporting on the replacement project, it’s genuinely one of the busiest rural general hospitals in Scotland relative to its size, largely because of the volume of outdoor visitors passing through Lochaber each year on top of the local population.
Address, contact details and how to find it
Belford Hospital sits on Belford Road, Fort William, PH33 6BS, and the main switchboard number is 01397 702481. If you’re arriving by train, the hospital is directly across the road from Fort William railway station; turn left out of the main station entrance and you’ll see it on the opposite side.
By car, follow the A82 into Fort William and stay on the main road through several roundabouts towards the town centre, following signs and keeping the train station on your left as you pass it. NHS Highland’s own directions note the route can feel like doubling back on yourself once you reach the station roundabout, so it’s worth checking their website map before you set off if you haven’t been before.
Parking at Belford Hospital
Parking directly at the hospital is limited, and NHS Highland asks visitors to use the public car park across the road wherever possible rather than the small on-site spaces, which are largely reserved for drop-off, pick-up and disabled parking. Public car park charges in Fort William change from time to time, so check the machine or Highland Council’s website for the current rate on the day rather than relying on an old figure.
Services available at Belford Hospital
Belford Hospital offers a broader range of services than its size might suggest, reflecting its role as the main hospital for a large, remote area.
Accident and emergency and minor injuries
The accident and emergency department operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, according to NHS Inform’s service listing, though it’s always worth calling 01397 702481 or checking NHS Highland’s site before travelling, since hours and service availability can shift. The department handles bone injuries, general emergencies and walk-in X-rays, but there are some important limits: eye injuries are treated for minor cases only, with anything more serious referred on to a local optician or an Emergency Eyecare Treatment Centre, and there’s no resident paediatrician, so children under a certain age are typically stabilised before transfer to a specialist unit.
For major trauma, the Belford’s role is often to provide emergencies, initial treatment and stabilisation before transferring a patient on to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness or a Glasgow teaching hospital, which is part of why its Managed Clinical Network links matter so much in practice.
Surgery, HDU and imaging
Beyond emergency care, Belford Hospital undertakes a range of elective major surgery, backed by a well-equipped High Dependency Unit. Its radiology service includes on-site CT and ultrasound, which is a genuinely significant capability for a hospital of this size, and it means many patients don’t need to travel to Inverness for standard imaging.
Maternity and other services
Belford Hospital hosts a midwife-led maternity unit for lower-risk births, and a family planning clinic staffed by local GPs. As with any midwife-led unit, more complex births are typically planned or transferred to a consultant-led unit elsewhere, so it’s worth discussing your specific circumstances with your midwife well ahead of your due date.
Visiting hours and visiting someone at Belford Hospital
NHS Highland operates an “open visiting by arrangement” policy at the Belford rather than fixed visiting hours across every ward, reflecting a wider approach across NHS Highland hospitals that aims to keep visiting flexible around each patient’s needs. In practice, this means it’s sensible to call the ward directly, or use the main switchboard on 01397 702481, to check timing before you travel, particularly if you’re coming some distance to see someone. Alcohol isn’t permitted anywhere on NHS Highland grounds, including during visits.
The new Belford Hospital: what’s actually happening
A replacement for Belford Hospital has been discussed for more than two decades, and the project has had a genuinely difficult path. Highland Council bought a site at Blar Mhor, near Caol, back in 2015, and design work has progressed on and off since, reaching RIBA Stage 2 concept design under supply chain partner Balfour Beatty before being paused when the Scottish Government froze new capital projects.
Funding was allocated in the 2025-26 Scottish Budget to restart the project, and NHS Highland has said the Outline Business Case is due in May 2026, with the Full Business Case expected in July 2027 and construction potentially starting around October 2027. The masterplan has also grown, with total floor space increased from 8,500 to 12,400 square metres to meet current healthcare design standards. Given how many times the timeline has shifted already, treat any of these dates as the current plan rather than a guarantee, and check NHS Highland’s own project page for the latest position before assuming a specific date.
Costs to know about
Care at Belford Hospital, like anywhere in NHS Scotland, is free at the point of use, and prescriptions are free of charge for everyone in Scotland regardless of age or income, unlike in England where prescription charges still apply. The main cost most visitors actually encounter is parking in the public car park across the road, since on-site hospital parking is limited, so it’s worth having change or a parking app ready if you’re planning more than a quick drop-off. If you need patient transport to or from an appointment and you don’t have a car, ask your GP practice or the hospital about eligibility for NHS-funded patient transport, since criteria vary and aren’t automatic.
Mistakes to avoid
A few things trip up visitors and patients more than anything else. Assuming the Belford’s A&E can handle every type of emergency is one, since certain cases, particularly serious eye injuries, complex paediatric care and major trauma, are stabilised and then transferred to Raigmore or Glasgow rather than treated fully on site. Turning up expecting fixed visiting hours is another, since the Belford runs open visiting by arrangement rather than a set daily window, so a quick call ahead saves a wasted trip.
Relying on hospital car park spaces rather than the public car park across the road is a common frustration too, given how limited on-site parking actually is. And if you’re planning a visit around news of the new hospital, don’t assume construction has started or a firm opening date exists, since the project has slipped multiple times over the past decade.
FAQS
Where is Belford Hospital?
Belford Hospital is on Belford Road, Fort William, PH33 6BS, directly across the road from Fort William railway station.
What is the phone number for Belford Hospital?
The main switchboard number for Belford Hospital is 01397 702481.
Does Belford Hospital have a 24-hour A&E?
Yes, according to NHS Inform’s service listing the accident and emergency department operates 24 hours a day, though it’s worth calling ahead or checking NHS Highland’s website to confirm current hours before travelling.
Can Belford Hospital treat children in A&E?
There’s no resident paediatrician at Belford Hospital, and while general surgeons, anaesthetists and physicians manage minor and major emergencies, younger children are typically stabilised before transfer to a specialist paediatric unit.
Is there parking at Belford Hospital?
On-site parking is limited and mainly reserved for drop-off, pick-up and disabled use, so NHS Highland asks visitors to use the public car park across the road instead.
When will the new Belford Hospital be built?
NHS Highland’s current timescale points to an Outline Business Case in May 2026 and a Full Business Case in July 2027, with construction potentially starting around October 2027, though the project has been delayed several times before.
Are there visiting hours at Belford Hospital?
Belford Hospital operates open visiting by arrangement rather than fixed hours, so it’s best to call the ward or the main switchboard before travelling to visit a patient.
Does Belford Hospital have a maternity unit?
Yes, it has a midwife-led maternity unit for lower-risk births, with more complex cases typically planned or transferred to a consultant-led unit elsewhere.
