WIGTOWNSHIRE residents are breathing a sigh of relief after health bosses confirmed the future of the Galloway Community Hospital (GCH).
At its next meeting in September, NHS Dumfries and Galloway’s Integration Joint Board (IJB) will be asked to consider a recommendation to explore ways of supporting the hospital and sustaining its services.
Chair of the IJB’s transformation, innovation and futures committee Ian Carruthers explained: “At our meeting in May we were very clear in our support of Galloway Community Hospital, and this is reflected in the proposed recommendation which the IJB will consider on September 24.
“Work looking at how GCH is supported is long-planned, but it appeared on our agenda at the same time as news broke of the NHS’s major financial challenges. This led to public concern which was perhaps understandable, but without foundation.
“Committee members recognise the important role that Galloway Community Hospital, which opened in 2006, plays in meeting the health needs of the local community, and were unanimous in their agreement to recommend that the IJB directs the NHS board to explore ways of supporting the hospital and sustaining its services.”
The news has been welcomed by members of Galloway Community Hospital Action Group (GCHAG) who have been campaigning for the return of maternity services.
Member, and councillor, Willie Scobie said earlier this week: “The GCH is an essential service provided to local people in Stranraer and Wigtownshire which is 75 miles away from the DGRI in Dumfries.”
A spokesperson for GCHAG added: “GCHAG members were delighted to hear this news at their meeting with David Rowland, director of strategic planning and transformation on Monday at their postponed follow-up meeting in the Right Care, Right Place programme.
“There had been concerns that the hospital might be under threat in the announcement of a review of the hospital following the health board’s recent announcement of huge monetary debts and that the board had announced that they needed to save £34,000,000.
“Members reminded Mr Rowland that they now hope to have good news regarding services at the Galloway for which they have been campaigning for a long time. Visits by consultants to Stranraer on a regular basis, full use of the surgical facilities locally and the urgent need for the return of midwife-led services here.”
