North Angus and Mearns MSP Mairi Evans has vowed to make saving a mental health unit in Angus the top priority in her new role.
NHS Tayside will hold crunch consultation meetings in June which could lead to the closure of the Mulberry Unit at Stracathro Hospital.
Ms Evans, who has been a Brechin councillor for the past nine years, said: “Number one on my list is to save the Mulberry Unit at Stracathro Hospital which is under threat.
“The SNP has promised an extra investment into mental health and that facility is absolutely vital in Angus.
“That’s going to be one of the first things that I tackle.
“I think it’s unfair that it is expected that the people of Angus are able to travel to a city.
“I think health care should be about equity of access, equal access to these types of facilities.
“Closing the unit would put the people of Angus at a specific disadvantage compared to Dundee.”
The health board approved a proposal in March to reduce the number of adult psychiatry inpatient services in Tayside from three to one or two locations.
Currently there are three acute admission wards – Carseview in Dundee, Murray Royal in Perth and the Mulberry at Stracathro Hospital.
Campaigners in Angus are concerned that the Mulberry Unit has already been identified as the preferred option for the closure.
The purpose-built Mulberry Unit is the largest of three wards at the £20 million Susan Carnegie Centre which was opened in December 2011, providing 25 beds.
North East Scotland Conservative MSP Alex Johnstone said he would also be fighting against the closure.
“We have identified a problem with mental health support in North Angus.
“I’ve been involved in several campaigns over many years to protect services at Stracathro.
“This is one more service that has been brought to Stracathro which is now under threat.
“It’s something we can’t do without.
“We can’t have the service being centralised in Dundee or Aberdeen.
“That’s not acceptable.
“This is a particular issue I will be fighting.”
The SNP retained both their constituency seats in Angus despite being given a close run by the Conservatives.
Graeme Dey retained the Angus South seat he won in 2011, but with his majority cut from 38.3% to 13.4%.
The SNP majority for the Angus North and Mearns seat was also reduced due to the Tory surge, from 29.2% to 8.3%.
Mr Dey said he was “proud and honoured” to have been re-elected as the MSP for Angus South.
He paid a “massive thank you” to his campaign team and said he was looking forward to getting back to work “and representing this fabulous part of our country at Holyrood”.
The turnout for Angus South was 56.8%, up from 49.9% five years ago, with 32,052 ballots cast.
In the Angus North and Mearns seat there was a 54.27% turnout with 29,496 ballots cast.
This was also up from 47.4% in 2011.
