A new £60m hospital in Orkney has been backed by the Scottish Government.

The government confirmed it had approved the business case for the hospital on Monday, two and a half years after NHS Orkney did the same.

The new facility will replace Balfour Hospital in Kirkwall when it opens in spring 2019.

Health secretary Shona Robison said it will "transform the way services are provided in the islands".

Cathie Cowan, chief executive of NHS Orkney, said: "This is a significant day for NHS Orkney.

"The investment by the Scottish Government further enables us to transform the care and services that we deliver."

Ms Robison said: "This project will provide a significant boost to the local economy during the construction phase, and once complete the hospital and healthcare facility will transform the way services are provided in the islands.

"These purpose-built, state-of-the-art facilities will enable more services to be provided at the hospital, ensuring some of our most remote communities don't have to travel as far for routine care."