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Public urged to speak up on health care after Brechin Infirmary closure

Public urged to speak up on health care after Brechin Infirmary closure

NHS Tayside will hold a public meeting in Brechin to discuss health provision in the town.

The planned meeting follows the closure of the GP ward at Brechin Infirmary two weeks ago.

NHS Tayside said that, due to a nationwide shortage, they did not have enough GPs to keep the ward open.

A spokesperson for the health board said it was in the process of holding meetings with community groups before engaging with members of the public.

He added: “This includes meetings with local councillors, MSPs and local patient groups.

“Over the coming weeks we have already arranged further meetings with local community group Brechin Churches Together, the Friends of Stracathro and our dedicated Patient Partner Groups in Brechin where people will have the opportunity to meet the doctors and nurses who are directly involved in providing local healthcare.”

Councillor Bob Myles said: “I had a meeting and some of the rationale was explained to me they say that the ward was closed on health grounds because they don’t have enough cover.

“They can’t close it properly until they have done all the proper consultation and they haven’t done that yet.

“There’s a process they have to go through.

“I would like them to open it again but the way they are talking there doesn’t seem to be much appetite within the NHS to reopen it.

“The formal process will involve the public getting a chance to have their say and I would encourage people to make their views known.”

Patients who would have gone to Brechin Infirmary will now go to Stracathro Hospital.

In the coming months a new community-based model of care will be introduced in north-east Angus.

Dr Michelle Watts, associate medical director for primary care for NHS Tayside, said: “The enhanced community support model will provide improved care to support people in community and at home.

“This involves a multi-disciplinary team of health professionals working together in partnership with social care and voluntary sector colleagues to support individual patients and their families.

“Elderly people in the community can be better supported as the team can anticipate problems at a much earlier stage, offer comprehensive assessment and provide support early enough to maintain people at home, where possible.

“This model is already working well in south Angus in Monifieth, Carnoustie and, most recently, in Arbroath, where it has been very much welcomed by patients, their carers and the teams who work with them.”