Yahoo News Public consultation on future of Dumfries and Galloway cottage hospitals to be ramped up
Public consultation on the future of four of the region’s cottage hospitals is finally set to be ramped up with in-person events planned for August.
Facilities in Thornhill, Moffat, Newton Stewart and Kirkcudbright were mothballed during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and have never reopened, with only vaccination and some outpatient clinics maintained.
Last year, the region’s integration joint board (IJB) decided not to reopen the hospitals following the Right Care, Right Place consultation into intermediate care, opting instead to look again at the situation “following work with communities on the future role of cottage hospital sites.”
And this resulted in options for each one being drawn up which include keeping the four hospitals mothballed, or closed permanently; creating community health and social care hubs; transferring ownership to the community or re-establishing the sites, which would mean the return of in-patient facilities.
Residents have been able to have their say in a questionnaire, giving their views on each of the options put forward, but planned drop-in sessions were put on hold when the General Election was announced.
On Friday, director of Strategic Planning and Transformation, David Rowland, said they are now back on the table and scheduled to take place after the school holidays.
Mr Rowland said: “As of July 2, a total of 169 people had already contributed their thoughts. We’re extremely grateful to each and every one of them, and hope to see a lot more responses over coming weeks.”
You can visit the website to take part online at www.dghscp.co.uk/rcrp-consultation or get full details on how to participate, or alternatively telephone 07385-413671.
Mre Rowland added: “While we have continued to run the consultation on the website, the rules which quickly came into effect when the General Election was called meant we had to halt all publicity around the consultation.
He added: “Dumfries and Galloway Integration Joint Board had been due to receive the outcomes of the consultation at their meeting in September. However, recognising widespread desire to see outcomes from this work, an extraordinary meeting of the IJB has been scheduled for October 29. It’s at this meeting that decisions are expected to be taken around the options which have been out to consultation.”
The drop-in sessions for Dumfriesshire will be: Dumfries: August 27, The Bridge from 3pm to 7pm; Langholm: August 28, Buccleuch Centre, 3pm to 7pm; Lockerbie, August 29, town hall, 3pm to 7pm; Sanquhar, September 2, community centre, 3pm to 7pm; Gretna, September 5, Richard Greenhow Centre, 3pm to 7pm; Annan, September 11, Victoria Hall Complex, 3.30pm to 7.30pm; Moffat, September 16, town hall, 3pm to 7pm; Thornhill, September 18, community centre, 3pm to 7pm.
