Craig has given his reaction to recent news of changes to inpatient services at Edington Cottage Hospital.
Full story is available from the East Lothian Courier website: www.eastlothiancourier.com/news/19551953.six-inpatient-beds-temporarily…
Craig said:
“I am deeply concerned by the news about the temporary closure of the Edington Cottage Hospital in North Berwick later this month. Patients do better when they are in their own communities, which is why local health services are so important.
“Given the increasing size of East Lothian’s communities we need the SNP government to properly fund localised healthcare and hospital provision in the county.
“I am deeply concerned that this will be used as an excuse to permanently centralise inpatient services in East Lothian and to effectively close the Edington.
“This move has taken place without any public consultation and is the thin end of the wedge which could see services removed from both North Berwick and eventually Belhaven Hospital in Dunbar.
“I have written to the Chief Executive of NHS Lothian and the Scottish Government to express my concerns and to seek reassurances that inpatient work and admissions will return to the Edington Cottage Hospital in the near future.
“Whether it is the closure of in-patient services at the Edington, or the failure to provide an adequate range of medical care at the East Lothian Community Hospital, I will continue to speak up for local residents and local patients.”
