MSP CALLS FOR COMMUNITY HOSPITAL CLOSURE PLANS TO BE HALTED (Jim Hume)

MSP CALLS FOR COMMUNITY HOSPITAL CLOSURE PLANS TO BE HALTED

November 30, 2009 5:28 PM

Jim Hume, Liberal Democrat MSP for the South of Scotland, has today called on Scottish Government Ministers to reject any plans to close five community hospitals in Dumfries and Galloway.

The MSP's call comes after a successful public meeting in Langholm and his invitation to Health Secretary, Nicola Sturgeon MSP, to meet with local residents.

Jim Hume said:

"Community hospitals are much loved, invaluable assets especially in rural or remote areas and people are genuinely worried about losing them.

"The consultation is ongoing and NHS Dumfries and Galloway will make a recommendation to Scottish Ministers in the New Year. Nicola Sturgeon will then have the final say.

"I would encourage everyone to respond to the consultation, but I am also at the outset asking the Health Secretary to consider very carefully the realities of closing these five community hospitals. I hope that she will accept my invitation to meet with residents."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. Mr Hume has lodged a parliamentary motion -

S3M-05289 Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (Scottish Liberal Democrats): Community Hospitals in Dumfries and Galloway- That the Parliament notes the contents of NHS Dumfries and Galloway's consultation document, Your NHS - Your Future Care; believes that the preferred option, which would result in the closure of Moffat, Langholm, Kirkcudbright, Lochmaben and Thornhill community hospitals, is widely unpopular with the respective local communities and fundamentally disregards the rural remoteness of parts of the region and the invaluable and high quality of care provided by these facilities; further believes that NHS Dumfries and Galloway must take advantage of opportunities to redevelop hospitals in conjunction with other statutory bodies, private providers and voluntary organisations where necessary, and considers that the Scottish Government should reject NHS Dumfries and Galloway's preferred option for closures and, instead, require redesign of the proposals to redevelop these vital, locally delivered community NHS services.

2. The consultation ends on the 29th January 2010 and can be found at -

http://www.nhsdg.scot.nhs.uk/

3. Public drop in sessions are as follows -

All sessions will be held From 7pm-9pm

DECEMBER 2009

2nd Town Hall, Castle Douglas

17th St. Brides Chuch Hall, Sanquhar

JANUARY 2010

5th Buccleuch Centre, Langholm

7th North West Resource Centre, Dumfries

12th Ryan Centre, Stranraer

13th St. Georges Church Hall, Dumfries