The Tayside health board’s decision to withdraw weekend cafe services at the largest hospital in Angus have been met with anger.
Members of the over-50s representation forum Angus Gold have asked NHS Tayside to reconsider its “punitive” withdrawal of a trial cafe at Stracathro, which is used by the relatives of inpatients, among others.
The health service has reduced the operation to a weekday service, claiming there is “little demand” for the cafe over weekends.
A spokeswoman for Angus Gold said its network, which represents members of the Arbroath, Brechin, Forfar, Kirriemuir and Montrose groups, met last week on the issue and want the move reversed.
“High on the agenda was the recent closure of the restaurant at the weekends,” she said.
“The refusal of Tayside health board to move on the subject has prompted the forum to organise a public petition to have this punitive sanction reversed.”
Member David Todd, 78, from Brechin, said “terrible management” and low visibility of services has led to the cafe getting an unfair run.
“It’s been terrible management that’s caused that,” he told The Courier. “There’s no signs up, and you can’t even see the place, so there’s that side of it.
“They’ve never really made an attempt to promote it and it’s a wonderful place.
“I’d be pleased if they came to meet the gold forum because we are representative of many who use the hospital, particularly in the over-55s age group.
“We just don’t accept the kind of management that’s led to this.”
The cafe opened in March last year and the health board said its decision to operate on weekdays was established during the planning stages.
A spokeswoman said: “In response to local request at Stracathro, it was agreed to test demand in the new cafe, on the basis that there may be an uptake in demand.”
However “use remained very low.”
“When the cafe did open at weekends, income was as little as £20 net per day,” she added.
“NHS Tayside was not able to consider supporting the staffing costs and overheads associated with operating a catering facility where there was little demand.”
Visitors of inpatients, and outpatients waiting on appointments, still have access to hot and cold drinks and snack vending machines, but no hot or freshly prepared meals or beverages.
Mr Todd added: “This is the first time I’ve heard about the NHS needing to consider profit on what parts it intends to keep open. This is an invaluable service.”
According to the Angus Gold Forum, its remit is “working with the 50-plus age group across the county by encouraging people to think about issues that are important to them and to find ways to address these issues.”