Reacting to the news that NHS Dumfries and Galloway’s Performance Committee have taken the decision to close the Daratiagh facility in Stranraer, Galloway and West Dumfries MSP Alex Fergusson said:-
“I am simply staggered at this decision. There has been no consultation with any stakeholder, least of all the families on whom this will have an immediate impact. I understand that three patients with dementia have already been moved from Daratiagh to Midpark in Dumfries – some 75 miles away from their families and their community. That is simply not right.
“The decision has been taken to pursue the policy of providing as much care as possible in the patient’s own home and the local NHS says that it has plans to ‘further enhance the range of community based clinical services’. However if it is to develop new services, it should surely do so before it closes the one facility in the area which delivers the current services. That would give time to prove the new services are fit for purpose and accepted by the patient group for which the services are designed. Furthermore, it is clear that any patient that the new services do not benefit will simply be sent to Dumfries.
“By taking this abrupt decision, the Health Board is simply centralising NHS services into Dumfries to the complete disadvantage of my constituents in Wigtownshire. I cannot and do not accept that this is the right decision for those who live in the West of the Region and nor do I accept that it is for the good of the patients involved. This is about saving money first and foremost, and I believe the decision should be put on hold until full consultation has taken place and all reasonable alternatives explored.”
