INDEPENDENT REVIEW SET FOR NHS DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY PLANS

9.50.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 3rd Apr 2009

Jim Hume, Liberal Democrat MSP for the South of Scotland, has today commented on the Scottish Government's announcement that an independent review will take place into NHS Dumfries and Galloway's healthcare redesign proposals.

The review will take place before the health board consults on proposals which include the use and configuration of nine community hospitals in the region; and the refurbishment of the Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary to introduce more single bed rooms.

Jim Hume MSP said:-

"There has been growing concern about what will happen to community hospitals in the Dumfries and Galloway region in terms of reductions in service provision, the relocation of some services and the loss of facilities altogether. People want to know what is going to happen to their local hospitals.

"Both the consultation and the independent review need to take into consideration the demographics of the area and the importance of community hospitals to rural towns and villages. Whatever decisions are finally made, they must not be based on cost alone.

"The health board should be looking at developing integrated services and this would involve looking at retaining in-patient beds at hospitals; providing day care services; day hospital facilities; development of support services and integration of home care services.

The MSP continued:

"Community hospitals are well valued community assets and good, integrated healthcare especially in rural and rural-remote areas should remain local through sensible development of these existing facilities."

ENDS