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ELECTION: Aberdeenshire West SNP candidate Fergus Mutch secures Insch Hospital investment


By Kirsty Brown

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Aberdeenshire West SNP candidate Fergus Mutch has secured a manifesto commitment on the future of Insch War Memorial Hospital.

The community hospital was closed at the start of the pandemic, with its future hanging in the balance despite local pressure for its reopening.

He has backed the community campaign led by the Friends of Insch Hospital, making representations to NHS Grampian and the Scottish Government and committing publicly to “fight tooth and nail” for the hospital’s future.

The Aberdeenshire West candidate pushed for its inclusion in the SNP manifesto.

The manifesto, launched today by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, makes specific mention of Insch Hospital as part of a £10billion proposal to renew and upgrade health facilities across Scotland, with primary and community healthcare hubs at the heart of those plans.

In the manifesto reads: "Our investment programme will include renewing or upgrading primary and community facilities - including, for example, Glenrothes Hospital in Fife, Insch War Memorial Hospital in Grampian, Biggart’s Hospital in Prestwick, the Cottage Hospital in Castle Douglas, Falkirk Community Hospital, completion of the new St Brendan’s Community Hospital in Barra, and the rollout of improved connectivity services to enable greater use of ‘Near Me’ in Orkney.

"Renewing acute and general hospital facilities to keep them fit for the future; this will include completing the Baird Family Hospital and ANCHOR Centre in Aberdeen, and building the new Monklands Hospital at Wester Moffat."

Commenting, Fergus Mutch said: “This is a huge step towards the reopening of Insch Hospital after an anxious time for the community.

“It’s a much loved local resource, with a 100-year history.

"It forms the heart of the village and serves a huge swathe of rural Aberdeenshire.

“The SNP recognises the hospital’s value and I’ve been making the case for its safe reopening.

“I’m absolutely delighted that Insch Hospital features front and centre of my party’s plans to transform healthcare facilities across Scotland over the next decade.

“Insch is a community with a growing population. Like any public service, local healthcare must adapt and modernise to be match fit for the challenges of tomorrow.

"That requires investment in community facilities like Insch, and many other local hospitals across the north east.

“If you want Scotland’s NHS in safe hands, then make it Both Votes SNP this May.”

Fergus Mutch
Fergus Mutch

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