ACTIVE promotion of consultation on four of the region’s cottage hospitals can now resume following the General Election – with in-person events scheduled to take place after the school holidays.
Director of Strategic Planning and Transformation David Rowland said: “Consultation on options for cottage hospitals in Moffat, Thornhill, Kirkcudbright and Newton Stewart began on Friday May 17.
“While we have continued to run the consultation on the website, the rules which quickly came into effect when the General Election was called meant we had to halt all publicity around the consultation.
“It also meant that we had to postpone public gatherings during the Pre-Election Period, taking advice from the likes of Healthcare Improvement Scotland – Community Engagement.
“With the election now over, we’re able to ramp up our promotion of the consultation and announce the dates for the 15 rescheduled in-person drop-in events taking place right across the region.”
Mr Rowland added: “We're conscious that many local people may be outwith the region for part of the school holidays, so the in-person events have been scheduled to take place once the holidays are over – running from 20 August to 18 September.
“Having lost several weeks of promotion due to the Pre-Election Period, we’ve also extended the original consultation period so that it now runs until September 27.
“Dumfries and Galloway Integration Joint Board (IJB) had been due to receive the outcomes of the consultation at their meeting in September.
“However, recognising widespread desire to see outcomes from this work, an extraordinary meeting of the IJB has been scheduled for October 29. It’s at this meeting that decisions are expected to be taken around the options which have been out to consultation.”
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 The consultation itself is being heavily promoted with newspaper advertising, posters, social media promotion including an animated video, emails to stakeholders and a major radio campaign.
Mr Rowland said: “As of July 2, a total of 169 people had already contributed their thoughts. We’re extremely grateful to each and every one of them, and very much hope to see a lot more responses over coming weeks.
“Please do visit the website to take part online or get full details on how to participate, or alternatively telephone 07385 413671.
“It’s important that everyone has their say, so please do get involved.” 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, 9 th 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
