A CONSULTATION on four of the region’s cottage hospitals can now resume following the General Election, say health chiefs.
The public survey on options for the hospitals in Moffat, Thornhill, Kirkcudbright and Newton Stewart initially began on Friday May 17.
And 169 people have already submitted their views.
But the election period meant public gatherings and meetings had to be postponed, although the consultation did continue online.
Explaining what happens now, director of strategic planning and transformation David Rowland said: “With the election now over, we’re able to ramp up our promotion of the consultation and announce the dates for the 15 rescheduled in-person drop-in events taking place right across the region.
“We’re conscious that many local people may be outwith the region for part of the school holidays, so the in-person events have been scheduled to take place once the holidays are over – running from 20 August to 18 September.
“We’ve also extended the original consultation period so that it now runs until September 27. It’s important that everyone has their say, so please do get involved.”
Dumfries and Galloway Integration Joint Board (IJB) had been due to receive the outcomes of the consultation at their meeting in September.
But instead, an extraordinary meeting of the IJB has been scheduled for October 29 and it’s then that decisions are expected to be taken around the six options.
They range from keeping the status quo at each site, to developing community health hubs or inpatient facilities, moving it into community ownership, or closure.
Drop in sessions will take place in Kirkcudbright, Newton Stewart, Stranraer, Dumfries, Langholm, Lockerbie, Sanquhar, Gretna, Whithorn, Annan, Castle Douglas, Dalbeattie, Moffat and Thornhill on various dates between August 20 and September 18. See the dghscp.co.uk website for more information.
