LOCAL MP Richard Thomson is urging residents in Huntly and the surrounding area to take the opportunity of a drop-in event organised by Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) to make their views known on the planned changes to the Minor Injuries Unit at the Jubilee Hospital.
The Minor Injury Units at Peterhead, Fraserburgh and Huntly are scheduled to change their opening hours to 8.30am to 7.30pm seven days a week from Monday 1 July 2024.
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In March of this year, SNP members of Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership Integration Joint Board (IJB) voted against proposals to close Peterhead, Fraserburgh and Huntly’s Minor Injuries Units overnight as part of a series of budget proposals. Conservative and Lib Dem councillors voted to withdraw the evening and overnight service.
Commenting, Richard Thomson MP said:
“The decision to close Huntly’s Minor Injuries Unit overnight is a backward step for local healthcare, particularly given Huntly’s location and the distances involved should people need to access healthcare elsewhere, be that Aberdeen or Elgin.
“Aberdeenshire HSCP have stated the drop-in session is to allow them to ‘explore any impacts the changes may have’. While that would have been best done prior to any decision being taken, this is nevertheless an opportunity for the community to raise concerns about the planned changes get these on the record.
“I believe this decision, voted through by Conservative and Lib Dem councillors, will need to be revisited given the likely impact on patient care locally, and the added pressure it will lead to on services elsewhere, be that GMEDs, NHS24, or the ambulance service.”
Aberdeenshire HSCP has organised a drop-in session in Huntly to meet with residents to explore any impacts the changes may have and offer advice on what services are available overnight and how to access them. The details of the event are:
Huntly:
Monday 10 June 3.00pm-7.00pm, Stewarts Hall, 15-17 Gordon Street, Huntly AB54 8AJ.
