Plea made to reinstate additional services at Newton Stewart Hospital
A group of campaigners gathered on Thursday morning to make a case for the cottage hospital
Last updated 9th Nov 2023
Campaigners who want to see additional services reinstated at Newton Stewart Hospital are asking for answers, as consultations which will determine the future of the facility continue.
A crowd gathered in the car park of the cottage hospital on Thursday morning, in support of bed-based intermediate care returning to the facility.
NHS Dumfries and Galloway is conducting a ‘Right Care, Right Place’ consultation, however campaigners are calling for the process to move quicker.
At present, the hospital operates as the base for a home care team, and houses other health care services including podiatry clinics, physio, and occupational therapy.
Locals are having to travel to further afield to receive care
Concern was raised over the travel currently required from locals to access certain aspects of medical care, including palliative, respite, step up, step down, and end of life care.
With intermediate care suspended at the facility, campaigners outside the Cottage Hospital said people are often expected to go all the way to Stranraer to receive medical attention.
Calls for the return of such services have been well vocalised by members of the community, including the charity ‘League of Friends of Newton Stewart Hospital and Community’ as well as Councillors David Inglis and Richard Marsh.
Councillor Inglis said “We’re not just going to sit back and wait until a consultation finishes, and then wait for another goodness knows how long before they decide that they’re going to deliver certain aspects and not deliver other aspects. We’ve made it clear that what we’re working on are the priorities of our constituents.
“It was plain to see the number of people that were here today to support this cause, which follows a meeting in December when there was around 200 people in the local day centre, who were crying out for services to be reinstated in this building.”
Speaking on the ongoing consultation, Councillor Marsh said “There’s a second round of consultation currently underway. And I believe that the health board would wish that consultation to be completed to then have a look at the findings to then make a further resolution."
"But we feel we need action right now, in the interim this building is open, we need these services right now, we cannot wait for the consultation to be completed.”
Those present at the Newton Stewart Hospital car park on Thursday described the subject as ‘emotive’, suggesting the hospital has and should continue to play a big part in the community.
League of Friends of Newton Stewart Hospital and Community have raised a reported £120,000, which they would like to see spent on a palliative care unit, but they must await results from the NHS consultation.
In a statement, NHS Dumfries & Galloway said, ‘While we recognise the strong local community interest, we would advise that the correct and well-advertised means for everyone to have their say on the future of bed-based intermediate care is through the Right Care, Right Place consultation.’
Backing this consultation as the way forward, the health board said, ‘This follows on from engagement events earlier in the year, and at this point sees consultation taking place on plans for developing approaches to bed-based intermediate care for the short, medium and long-term.’
As campaigners await answers, the NHS are encouraging members of the public to contribute their views online, or at a drop in session. Locals can have their say at McMillan Hall in Newton Stewart on June 6th from 3 pm to 7 pm.