A REPORT to save Edington Cottage Hospital in North Berwick from continued closure has been endorsed by politicians and local community groups.
The report was compiled by Conservative MSP for South Scotland Craig Hoy and submitted to NHS Lothian and the Health and Social Care Partnership for East Lothian today ahead of a review this week which will determine whether the hospital re-opens or remains closed.
The MSP’s report, which details findings from a community postal and online survey of 1,939 responses, highlights that an overwhelming 97% of respondents oppose the continued closure of the Edington. From the questionnaires completed by residents in North Berwick, Dirleton, Gullane and surrounding areas, 80% also said that they or a member of their family had used the service and many respondents praised the Edington’s nurses for their professionalism and commitment to providing the highest quality of palliative and end-of-life care.
The Edington Hospital was closed in September by NHS Lothian due to bed shortages and staffing issues in other areas. The decision was taken without any form of community consultation.
Health chiefs will now make their decision on whether or not to keep the hospital closed for another three months on Thursday 9th December.
Among those supporting Mr Hoy’s report to re-open the Edington are the leader of North Berwick Community Council, Judy Lockhart-Hunter; North Berwick Coastal Councillor, Jeremy Findlay; and Chair of the Friends of Edington Hospital, Murray Duncanson.
Mr Hoy said: “The views of the public are incredibly important when making decisions about public services and designing services.
“When decisions are made centrally, the services they create will not be able to meet the demand and needs of local communities.
“That is why I took the decision to undertake a community survey in North Berwick and the surrounding area to gauge the views of local people on the change of service that had already been made at the Edington Hospital.
“Given the scale of the response, it is imperative that the clear views, contained within this report, are heard by NHS Lothian as they make their decision this Thursday.
“The Edington is a well-used and well-loved service in the community that provided a vital service.
“This is reflected in the responses.
“In particular, the Minor Injuries Unit at the Edington was highlighted by many as a key local resource that improved and saved lives. The expectation that those injured should be able to make their own way to Edinburgh to receive treatment, an hour by car for those that are able to, is unreasonable.
“The palliative care also provided by the Edington for those at the end of life was greatly appreciated by local people. To be close to and have the ability to quickly see a loved one who is nearing the end of their life is of great benefit and comfort to local people. An option that just would not be available to many, particularly those without cars, if this care was based outside of the community.
“The responses also reflect the very high regard that Edington staff were held in by those in local communities. Many commented that the staff often went above and beyond the call of duty in the service of patients and families.
“We can but hope that NHS Lothian will give these findings their full attention and reopen the Edington Hospital on the 9th of December.”
Judy Lockhart-Hunter, the Chair of North Berwick Community Council, said: “Thank you to Craig Hoy MSP for spearheading this report. What is clear from his survey is that the overwhelming majority of residents living in North Berwick and surrounding areas have at one time or another found themselves or a family member in position where they require healthcare from the Edington Cottage Hospital and therefore oppose the current removal of services.
“North Berwick Community Council (NBCC) found out about the service reduction via an unofficial post on Facebook. It is outrageous that NHS Lothian were unwilling to share this vital information and a gross misuse of Emergency Powers. NBCC have since received hundreds of emails from residents who are concerned about future healthcare needs being fulfilled. One family including a pregnant mother and young child found themselves stranded in Edinburgh one night when public transport was cancelled whilst they waited in the A&E Department at the Royal Infirmary. Does NHS Lothian support families sleeping on benches or in train stations because they cannot afford £80+ taxi fares home from a hospital 25 miles away?
“NHS Lothian not only refuse to consult on the Edington in any way, but they also refuse to engage. No reopening criteria has been provided to the community and they constantly demand Freedom of Information requests rather than willingly assist with questions we have.
“Given the current COVID pressures that people are dealing with and the effects that these have, having local healthcare services is more important than ever. NHS Lothian and the ELHSCP must support the community by reversing this frightening decision and returning vital health services to the community on December 9th.
“I sincerely hope that the Health Secretary, Humza Yousef, has agreed to meet with the Community Council in January to celebrate the reopening of the hospital and not because the review on December 9th is meaningless and will see the hospital remain in its current state of closure.
“Removing a local hospital from an area so poorly connected to the next available one should not be allowed. Any benefit to NHS Lothian gained by removing the nursing staff from the Edington is more than cancelled out by the terrifying state that residents find themselves in now where anytime there is adverse weather and travel services are disrupted, those without a car, find themselves excluded from the basic right to healthcare by the NHS itself. What an appalling situation and this must be reversed.”
Murray Duncanson, Chair of the Friends of Edington Hospital, said: “We recognise why emergency powers were used to close the Edington without public consultation and to move all patients, nursing and clinical support staff to the East Lothian Community Hospital. What we are struggling to accept, however, is that, despite the best efforts of the Steering Group to engage with East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership for the last three months to determine the criteria for re-opening the Edington, we have been given no answers whatsoever.
“Our community has been severely rocked by this closure. In their only communication with us, East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership tells us that they understand the importance and are appreciative of the support local communities have towards all the services provided in the local area. We hope they are serious about that and will reinstate all the services we have lost, putting the needs of our people, carers and families first.”
A copy of the report can be downloaded below:
