Health bosses have recommended to permanently shut a mothballed hospital and dispose of the building despite more than 1,000 people voicing concerns about its closure.
Gordon and Buchan MP Harriet Cross said Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership is ignoring public opinion to prioritise cost savings by wanting to permanently close Insch War Memorial Hospital.
Members of Aberdeenshire’s Integration Joint Board will be asked to approve the permanent closure of the rural hospital at a meeting on Wednesday, despite health chiefs warning it would lead to 12 negative impacts against only three which are positive.
Within the recommendation, it was revealed that in a recent public consultation, 1,020 people had raised significant concerns out of the 1,430 responses received.
These included vaccinations not being available locally, transport barriers for accessing care, the negative impact on the mental health of patients who would be further away from their family, travel costs for unpaid carers, and the closure of a local dementia support group and baby massage group.
Last month, almost 400 residents attended an eleventh-hour summit organised by Harriet Cross MP and Alexander Burnett MSP to save the Aberdeenshire facility.
Reacting to the recommendation to permanently shut the building, Scottish Conservative MP for Gordon and Buchan Harriet Cross said: “I’m extremely disappointed at this recommendation to close and dispose of Insch Hospital, which goes completely against widespread public opinion.
“Within the consultation, residents made their concerns loud and clear to the health and social care partnership, yet their views have been totally ignored.
“It’s disheartening that it appears this consultation was just a tick box exercise which was required before setting these closure plans in place.
“I am very aware of the budget cuts inflicted on NHS Grampian by the Scottish Government, but closing this vital facility will undoubtedly have lasting negative impacts on the community for years to come.
“Just five years ago, residents were plainly deceived by Nicola Sturgeon who promised to keep the hospital open in a pre-election pledge by the SNP.”The community has been inspirational, putting considerable effort and fundraising into developing a plan that would make the hospital functional and ready to use.
“That is why, as a hospital built in memory to those who gave their lives in the First World War, we must fight against this closure to the very end.”
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In the report to be heard on Wednesday, chief officer of Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership, Leigh Jolly, said: “On balance, officers conclude that retaining Insch War Memorial Hospital for future delegated service use would not represent an effective, sustainable or financially responsible use of public resources.
“The site has not provided inpatient care since 2020; significant workforce challenges remain; the building is unable to meet modern healthcare standards; substantial estates constraints limit redevelopment opportunities; no recurrent funding has been identified to support future services; and the building currently has limited operational use.
“In total there are 3 positive impacts as part of this activity. There are 12 negative impacts, 5 of which impacts can be partially mitigated and 7 which cannot be mitigated satisfactorily. “
