Jim Hume, Liberal Democrat MSP for the South of Scotland, yesterday (14th December) took the opportunity during the annual NHS D&G Review and public meeting over plans to close five community hospitals across Dumfries and Galloway to quiz Public Health Minister, Shona Robison.
The MSP has been backing calls from community councils and other local groups to keep the facilities open, and he warned of a centralist policy not fulfilling the needs of local healthcare.
Jim Hume said:
"When the health board makes its recommendations, Scottish Health Ministers will have to approve or reject the plans.
"I asked Ms Robison to seriously consider public opinion, the logistics and the social impact of closing these community hospitals before coming to any conclusion, and she assured me that this would be the case.
"But I still want Health Minister, Nicola Sturgeon MSP, to visit the area so that she can see at first hand the implications of any closures and I await her response."
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