Insch Hospital deemed surplus but Community Asset Transfer edges closer
A decision to declare a hospital surplus has been labelled a “sad indictment” of the state of rural healthcare in the north east.
Insch War Memorial Hospital was shut down at the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020 so that staff could be deployed elsewhere.
Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon pledged in 2021 that the hospital would not be shut for good.
The hospital celebrated its centenary in 2022 and prior to the pandemic it accommodated 12 inpatient beds.
It is still supported by the ‘Friends of Insch Hospital’ group who have actively worked to find solutions for its future.
However, nearly five years on, the facility remains closed.
Now, members of the Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership are recommending that the hospital be declared surplus.
The topic will be discussed later this week with Alexander Burnett, Scottish Conservative MSP for Aberdeenshire West, praising the continued efforts of the local community to bring the facility back into use.
He said: “Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership’s recommendation to declare Insch Hospital surplus is a sad indictment of the crisis facing rural healthcare in the North East.
“For a century, the hospital provided vital services to residents, but like many rural areas, Insch has unacceptably seen its healthcare centralised away from the local community.
“In particular, Nicola Sturgeon and the Scottish Government should be ashamed of themselves for promising to reopen the hospital as part of an election visit to Insch in 2021, knowing full well they had no intention of doing this.”
Being deemed surplus, however, could clear the way for a Community Asset Transfer with documents stating that if this were to move forward Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership could offer project officer time to assist.
Mr Burnett added: “while the hospital remains closed, the spirit of the community is undeterred, and I welcome the magnificent work of residents to push forward with a Community Asset Transfer.
“The community’s intention to progress with this is a positive step towards realising their vision and I will continue to support their incredible efforts to help make these plans a reality.”
