SAVE OUR COMMUNITY HOSPITALS - LOCAL LIBDEMS TO HOST LANGHOLM PUBLIC MEETING

5.00.00pm GMT Fri 13th Nov 2009

Jim Hume, Liberal Democrat MSP for the South of Scotland, is to host a public meeting on Monday 23rd November to gather the views of local residents about NHS Dumfries and Galloway's service review which could see the region lose much loved community hospitals in Langholm, Moffat, Lochmaben, Thornhill and Kirkcudbright.

The MSP will be joined by Catriona Bhatia, Liberal Democrat Prospective Westminster Candidate for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale.

Jim Hume said:

"Community hospitals are much loved facilities which provide a great deal of comfort to relatives and friends of patients who often spend their last days there. The Thomas Hope hospital in Langholm has a particular argument for being kept because of the distance from health facilities in Carlisle and the fact that getting to Annan, where a replacement facility would be, is not easy by public transport.

"It's clear that NHS D&G will have difficult financial decisions to make, but whatever happens, the new set up should not be based on cost alone. The health board ought to be putting patient care as the top priority and thereafter looking at whether multiple health services can be integrated into community hospitals to make the best use of resources.

"The bottom line is that people want all aspects of their health service to be local, and retention of community hospitals especially in rural and remote areas is hugely important. Closing beds should be a last resort."

Catriona Bhatia, Liberal Democrat Prospective Westminster Candidate for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale, added:

"I would encourage as many local people as possible to come along to the meeting on 23rd, as it is important that NHS Dumfries and Galloway is made fully aware of the concerns of communities over the proposed closure of these vital facilities. I would hope that this is a genuine consultation and that any alternative options put forward will be fully and properly considered both by the local Health Board and the SNP Minster Nicola Sturgeon, who will ultimately make any decision on the future of the community hospitals."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

The public meeting will be held on Monday 23rd November at 7pm in the Langholm Academy School Hall, Thomas Telford Road, Langholm, DG13 0BL