Public meeting looks at the next steps for Insch Hospital

Friends of Insch Hospital are looking at the next steps to bring a north-east hospital back into use after three years of inaction on reopening the facility and will be hosting a public meeting in the town on Saturday at 10am.

On April 29, 2021, former first minister Nicola Sturgeon visited the village to endorse her party's candidate for the Scottish Parliament election five days later and she unveiled an SNP manifesto promise to "refurbish and replace" the century-old building as part of a £10 billion fund.

But no funding has arrived and the head of Aberdeenshire health and social care partnership last year said the hospital is “not appropriate” for treating patients.

Later in 2023, outgoing FM Humza Yousaf said an update would arrive “once immediate system pressures have reduced to provide management capacity for this.”

But this was on the heels of Scottish Government advice that a "business case" was to be submitted before any funding could be relayed.

A long saga of claim and counter claim has ensued over the intervening years with the local health board saying it no longer meets current healthcare standards and is therefore not safe to reopen.

In the latest moves to bring the facility back into use, Friends of Insch Hospital and Community are hosting a public meeting as they discuss the future direction of efforts and the impactful work they have been doing together.

Community input is crucial as they chart the next steps in supporting the community, with the meeting being held on Saturday, May 18 at 10am in Insch Church Hall.

Agenda Topics:will include -

Community Asset Transfer: Should we explore this avenue to ensure the long-term viability of essential services in our area? Shifting Focus: Should we redirect our efforts from reopening the hospital to providing vital community services?

Advocacy: Do we continue the fight to return hospital beds to Insch, or is there a more effective strategy?

Legal Action: Should we pursue formal proceedings against AHSCP for their handling of the closure of Insch Hospital?

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.