NHS chiefs have “not convinced” a local MSP over the future of Montrose’s maternity unit.
Doubts have remained over the unit since the closure of Montrose Royal Infirmary in April last year due to the failure of heating and water systems.
The infirmary’s community maternity unit reopened on June 21, with the GP wards following in July.
Angus North and Mearns MSP Nigel Don wrote to NHS Tayside chief executive Lesley McLay to express concerns the unit could be closed, following weeks of public speculation.
Her response stated: “NHS Tayside has no current plan to close the Montrose facility.”
Mr Don said: “I’m grateful for the response which at least gives an assurance about the immediate future. I am, however, concerned about possible plans.
“We are all aware that the NHS is currently looking at ways of integrating health and social care, and I know they will want to engage with local communities to consider all the options.
“But I am not convinced that they understand the depth of feeling about the Montrose Royal Infirmary.
“The maternity unit has an enviable reputation, and doctors, patients and families alike want to keep the local hospital.”
A demand for assurances over the Montrose Infirmary GP ward’s future last year was backed by a 400-name petition calling for “no more excuses” as anxious nurses awaited communications from NHS Tayside.
A meeting was held to discuss their concerns, attended by GPs from all three practices in Montrose.
NHS sources said the upheaval and uncertainty over its long-term future led to higher stress-related staff absence rates.
At that time NHS Tayside confirmed there was a rise in the number of workers signed off with stress-related illnesses following the decision to temporarily close the infirmary, with job uncertainty understood to be the reason for the increase.
The Courier previously met a group of nursing staff based in Montrose who said “silence is speaking volumes” over the ward.
The latest speculation over maternity nursing comes as a major question mark hangs over the long-term future of another Angus hospital.
Plans to reshape health services and models of care in south Angus look almost certain to sound the death knell for Arbroath’s Little Cairnie Hospital.
Staff broke ranks following a meeting with senior NHS Tayside managers last week and said they have been told the facility will close within weeks.
Bill Nicoll, director of primary and community services for NHS Tayside, said there has been “no decision” to close Little Cairnie.
But he admitted that staff would be redeployed from the hospital if there came a time when there were no in-patients in the ward and no one waiting to be admitted.