Drop-in sessions on D&G cottage hospitals set to get under way
In-person consultations on the future of the facilities will begin in Kirkcudbright on Tuesday 20th August
Drop-in consultations on the future of Dumfries and Galloway's cottage hospitals are set to get under way.
Locals have already been taking part in an online discussion on the facilities in Moffat, Thornhill, Kirkcudbright and Newton Stewart.
The sites have been effectively out of use since before the pandemic, with a only a handful of services like vaccinations and some out-patient clinics maintained.
Options for their future range from the restoration of some in-patient services, to closing the cottage hospitals altogether.
Campaigners have argued that brining hospital beds back to local communities could help ease the financial pressure the health board has been experiencing in recent years.
Drop-in events for the public begin on August 20th in Kirkcudbright, and continue in Newton Stewart and Stranraer.
Director of Strategic Planning and Transformation David Rowland said: “We’re very pleased that so many people have already taken part in the consultation on the four cottage hospitals.
"Important everyone is encouraged and supported to have their say"
“While people can continue to take part online, by visiting the website, next week sees the start of in-person drop-in sessions. At these events, people can call in and either be supported to complete their response to the consultation or take away the survey document.
“It’s very important that everyone is encouraged and supported to have their say on how the cottage hospitals are employed going forward, and I hope to see really good turnouts at Kirkcudbright next Tuesday, Newton Stewart next Wednesday and Stranraer next Thursday.”
Dates, times and locations for the in-person drop-in sessions are as follows:
Kirkcudbright, 20th August, 15:00 - 19:00, Kirkcudbright Parish Church Hall
Newton Stewart, 21st August, 15:00 - 19:00, McMillan Hall
Stranraer, 22nd August, 15:00 - 19:00, Stranraer Millennium Centre
Dumfries, 27th August, 15:00 - 19:00, The Bridge
Langholm, 28th August, 15:00 - 19:00, Buccleuch Centre
Lockerbie, 29th August, 15:00 - 19:00, Town Hall
Sanquhar, 3rd September, 15:00 - 19:00, Community Centre
Gretna, 5th September, 15:00 - 19:00, Richard Greenhow Centre
Isle of Whithorn, 9th September, 12:00 - 14:00, St Ninians Hall
Whithorn, 9th September, 15:00 - 19:00, New Town Hall
Annan, 11th September, 15:30 - 19:30, Victoria Hall Complex
Castle Douglas, 12th September, 15:00 - 19:00, Town Hall
Moffat, 16th September, 15:00 - 19:00, Town Hall
Dalbeattie, 17th September, 15:00 - 19:00, Town Hall
Thornhill, 18th September, 15:00 - 19:00, Community Centre
Promotional campaign to highlight consultations
The events are being promoted through a radio campaign, newspaper advertising, promotions on social media, poster campaigns and direct engagement with local groups.
Dumfries and Galloway Integration Joint Board is responsible for making strategic decisions over the future of health and social care, and issuing directions for implementation to the NHS and local authority.
The IJB will be presented with recommendations resulting from the work which has been undertaken at an extraordinary meeting on 29 October 2024.