A £140,000 upgrade to Raigmore Hospital café located at the front entrance to the hospital got under way this week.
The work, which is expected to take two months to complete, is being funded by a loan from the hospital's Endowment Funds Committee and will be paid back over a period of four years.
Hospital bosses hope the café will be a more relaxing and comfortable space for patients, visitors and staff and will bring it in line with current building requirements when it is complete.
Chris Lyons, general manager of Raigmore Hospital, is delighted that the work has started and explained that the refurbishment is going to make a big difference to the front of the hospital.
He said: "The new café is going to greatly enhance the front of the hospital making coming into the building a more pleasant experience for patients and visitors.
"The furniture and surrounding décor will be changed making it a much more appealing area for people to sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee."
The new development will also have extended opening hours when it reopens with the facilities being available Monday-Friday from 8am-7pm, and over the weekend from noon-5pm.
Vending machines which were in the old area are being moved to a dedicated vending room in the main hospital corridor and will be available 24/7.
Mr Lyons said: "There is going to be some disruption as this work is carried out, however our main Outpatients café is still open and patients, visitors and staff will be able to use that while the front entrance café is closed.
"I’m looking forward to this development being completed. I really do think the change this will bring to the front of the hospital will benefit patients, visitors and staff alike."
