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Public urged to make voices heard on future of north-east minor injury units

Chalmers Hospital and Banff Health centre
Chalmers Hospital and Banff Health centre

The public has been urged to make their voices heard to ensure vital healthcare services are protected.

Health bosses are currently reviewing services at four minor injury units across the region.

The future of Aboyne Hospital, Chalmers Hospital in Banff, Kincardine Community Hospital in Stonehaven and Turriff Hospital are all being considered by the Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership.

But new figures, provided by the Tories, reveal that almost 50,000 people have used the units over the past five years.

The highest number of patients attended Chalmers Hospital in that time, with 21,790 people receiving care.

The statistics showed there were 15,197 patients using Turriff, 5,381 attended Kincardine and 5,168 were treated at Aboyne.

It comes after the AHSCP U-turned on changing services at the Jubilee Hospital in Huntly in the face of widespread outcry.

More than 900 people turned out at a public meeting on Wednesday to have their say amidst growing fears the hospital would be downgraded.

Now a north-east MSP is calling on all four communities to follow the example of Huntly and help protect their local facility for future generations.

Peter Chapman said: “These figures show how important and well-used all five units are.

“My Scottish Conservative colleagues and I were pleased to see the board make the right decision in Huntly.

“The strength of public feeling has been obvious at local meetings up to this point.


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“And I don’t expect that to be any different in Banff on May 1.

“It is vital that communities turn out to show NHS Grampian how much they need these local services.”

It is understood that none of the units will be closed going forward, but communities have raised concerns opening hours could be slashed.

The preferred Chalmers Hospital option will be unveiled on Wednesday at the Harvest Centre, where a meeting will take place between 3pm and 7pm.

Other options have still to be outlined for Kincardine and Turriff.