NHS Highland chiefs have declined an invitation to attend a public meeting tomorrow over their moves to sever funding to a privately run hydrotherapy pool at Nairn Hospital.
The 7pm meeting at the town’s community and arts centre is scheduled to go ahead despite a U-turn by the board after a public outcry over the board’s review of the service.
It initially instructed Nairn Healthcare Group to stop taking referrals from July 1 for patients needing use of the facility.
The deadline has subsequently been withdrawn in the wake of a tide of local protest from pool users and their relatives and petitions.
The health board is now establishing a “revised referral process” for the pool – which received most of its annual funding from the NHS – involving GPs and physiotherapy staff.
The board today (TUES) declined to add to its statement last week that “having received a number of representations, it has been decided to ensure that no feasible options have been overlooked.”
For now, NHS Highland has promised to support new referrals and ongoing treatment for patients.
On behalf of the trust that operates the pool, Clive Murray said: “We are surprised the chief executive Elaine Meade has declined our invitation.
“We don’t know why this is because they were talking last week about dialogue and arranging a meting with the trust and we’ve had nothing since other than this reply.
“The petitions are going apace and we’ll update people on those, on Thursday. There is widespread support.”
Fears remain that the hydrotherapy pool, which is used by around 500 patients a month, may be forced to close if funding is not assured.
The trust which runs it is soon to celebrate its 30th anniversary.
It users have pointed out that Nairn’s public baths, the only alternative for some miles, is not a realistic alternative because the water is colder and the environment is not ideal for their purpose.
The board had initially decided to end the contract “based on the need to utilise the financial resources connected with the pool in a fairer way, allowing increased access for a larger group of patients to exercise and have water-based therapy.”