And they have suggested that a community group might be interested in taking over the listed building which dates back to the Victorian era.
An £8 million purpose-built unit to replace Migdale is presently under construction on a village centre site at Cherry Grove.
Building work is expected to be finished in June and it is hoped the hospital will be ready for occupation later in the summer.
NHS Highland managers have also announced that they will retain the name Migdale Hospital in line with the wishes of local people who have previously made it clear that they are not in favour of a name change.
The old hospital was declared surplus to requirements recently by the North Highland Community Health Partnership and its sale was approved on Tuesday by NHS Highland’s board of management.
The “B” listed building, which was built in the 1860s, started life as the county’s poorhouse but has long been considered no longer fit for purpose as a modern hospital.
NHS locality general manager Georgia Haire said: “The old hospital has served us well in the past but we are looking forward to moving into a new facility that will be fit for the 21st century.”
She added: “We would be delighted if a community group came forward with plans for the old building.”
Property management assistant Helen Emery explained that NHS procedures had to be followed for the disposal of the building.
“The first thing we do is to offer the building to other public-sector organisations,” she said.
“Community groups can also formally register an interest in the property.
“If a community group’s application is accepted by Scottish ministers, that group will have first refusal on the property, which it will be able to buy at market value, in accordance with the Scottish right-to-buy legislation.”
Ms Emery advised any community group interested in the building to register an interest as soon as possible.
“If there is no interest from any public-sector organisation or community group, the property will then be offered for sale on the open market.”
Creich Community Council chairman Pete Campbell said he welcomed the retention of the Migdale name.
“I’m jolly pleased that they are keeping it, although I cannot imagine why they would ever have thought of calling it by any other name,” he said.
Mr Campbell said the community council had been aware that the building would be going up for sale, but he did not know of any community group with a plan to buy it.
“If the NHS don’t want it, and if it was cheaper for them to build a brand new hospital rather than convert the old Migdale, then it strikes me that it would be a tall order for a community operation to take it over,” he added. “It’s also a listed building and anyone who has ever dealt with Historic Scotland knows the hassle that that brings with it.
“I think it will become a sort of white elephant unless we can find someone who wants to develop it into a private care home or whatever.”
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