Peeblesshire News | News | Haylodge fears dismissed

Thursday, 4th December, 2008

Published: Friday, 29th September, 2006 10:32

Haylodge fears dismissed

By David Knox

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PEEBLESHIRE politician Jeremy Purvis has met with health chiefs over the growing fears for Haylodge Hospital.

And has been given assurances that there are no plans to downgrade services.

The Peeblesshire News highlighted the growing concerns last week about X-rays being cancelled and less than half the beds being occupied.

But when the MSP held discussions with NHS Borders chief executive John Glennie on Friday, he was told the claims were unfounded.

Mr Purvis told us: “I am pleased to be able to give the local community the assurances of NHS Borders about the hospital’s future.

“In recent years over £300,000 has been invested in Haylodge and it is a key facility in the Borders.

“The categorical assurances I have received from NHS Borders should address the concerns that may have been raised by the newspaper article.

“In the discussions I was told that the old X-ray machine has been deemed unsafe and the technology has moved on to digital scans. Although this may mean a number of transfers to the BGH for digital scans, on top of the 1000 a year of existing transfers, no formal decision has been taken by the board.”

Concerns were brought to the Peeblesshire News by several patients whose appointments were either cancelled or transferred.

Staff at the hospital also told of their fears over the health board’s intentions as only 19 of the hospital’s 50 beds were occupied.

And local councillor Catriona Bhatia had been waiting for a fortnight on a reply to a letter highlighting the concerns.

Mr Purvis added: “Councillor Bhatia wrote to the Board two weeks ago asking about the status of the X-ray machine and the number of beds being utilised. I also raised concerns about bed blocking because of problems receiving social work assessments on discharge.

“I met with staff at Haylodge during the summer and the issue of beds was not raised. However it is GPs who are responsible for the majority of these admissions, not NHS Borders. There have been fewer admissions than normal at this time year, but this has not prompted any discussion about bed numbers.”

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