DROP-IN consultation events on the role of four of the region’s cottage hospitals begin next week.
Consultation is taking place on options for cottage hospitals in Moffat, Thornhill, Kirkcudbright and Newton Stewart, with drop-in events for the public taking place next week in Kirkcudbright, 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.
“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.”
Following extensive stakeholder engagement and focused workshop sessions, six options were developed for each of the four cottage hospital sites.
Details on the six options for each location are set out on the Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care website www.dghscp.co.uk/rcrp-consultation
These options are the status quo, status quo plus, a Community Health and Social Care Hub, an inpatient facility, community ownership and closure of the site.
People visiting the site can review the documentation and can complete their formal response to the consultation online, with the consultation drawing to a close on 27 September 2024.
A busy schedule of drop-in sessions begin next week, offering local people a chance to discuss the options with members of our team before completing the consultation document.
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 Millenium 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
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 (IJB) are 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.
They will be asked to consider these recommendations, taking account of the feedback from consultation, the outputs from the options appraisal, an assessment of their financial viability, the associated workforce implications, as well as the views of professional advisors and the management team responsible for delivery.
They will also be asked to consider all the formal responses to the consultation, and a financial appraisal of the options.
