Jim Hume, Liberal Democrat MSP for the South of Scotland, has today written to NHS Lothian and East Lothian Council about the Older People’s Strategy following a number of approaches from constituents in relation to Eddington Community Hospital.

The MSP is also seeking clarification on a number of other points.

Jim Hume said:

“Facilities like Eddington Community Hospital are of huge importance to communities because they provide a very localised level of healthcare provision and play an especially crucial role in the care of the elderly and terminally ill patients as well as providing other medical support to the wider population. Indeed, the 2005 Kerr Report highlights this arm of the NHS as having a key role to play in communities.

“Whilst I understand that Community Health Partnership officials have said officially that Eddington Community Hospital is not to be closed, there is concern locally that the facility could be downgraded following publication of the Draft Older People’s Strategy, so clarification on this point is essential.

“An additional area of concern is that there are three new care homes within the Strategy. However, constituents have said to me that they fear they will not be built as a joint Council-NHS venture because of economic constraints. There appears to be a lack of clarity as to the future of these new builds, whether they will be built at all and who will be responsible for them.”