MSP in Positive Meeting over Chalmers Hospital Minor Injuries Unit

Local MSP Stewart Stevenson has welcomed a commitment given at a meeting with health officials in Banff that the Minor Injury Unit at Chalmers Hospital will remain open meantime 24/7 while a further period of data gathering is initiated.

Peter Johnston (Friends of Chalmers Hospital)
Dr Janet Anderson (Friends of Chalmers Hospital)
Angie Wood, (Partnership Manager,
Aberdeenshire Health & Social Care Partnership)
Stewart Stevenson MSP.

Mr Stevenson attended a productive meeting between representatives of the Aberdeenshire Health & Social Care Partnership, the Staff of the MIU at Chalmers and The Friends of Chalmers Hospital where it was agreed that the recommendations for the future operating model of the MIU at Chalmers Hospital will be delayed to allow for a further period of data gathering. During this period of data gathering the Unit will remain open 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week.

Peter Johnston, Honorary Treasurer for the Friends of Chalmers Hospital said:

“The Friends of Chalmers Hospital welcomes the fact that further consideration is being given to the unit’s activities and we look forward to seeing the outcome.“

Angie Wood for Aberdeenshire Health & Social Care Partnership said:

“As with the other areas that have been part of this review process, it is vitally important that we have the confidence of the all of the stakeholders in the recommendations we put forward to the Integration Joint Board.

“In Friday’s meeting we had an open and honest discussion about the recommendations we were due to put to the IJB and we agreed that it would be best to delay these until we can complete a further, intensive piece of data collection. Over the next month we will take an in depth look at activity in the out of hours period at the unit, including patient outcomes.

“Agreeing to hold off making any recommendations and really studying the new data, will allow us to work with the staff to shape the future operating model of the unit and hopefully will give the wider community confidence in the process.

“As I said at the meeting the recommendations following this additional piece of work might be the same, but with greater involvement from the staff at Chalmers and from the local community, I hope we will have more confidence in any recommendations we put forward in the future.”

Banffshire & Buchan Coast Constituency SNP MSP, Stewart Stevenson, who attended the meeting, commented:

"I was pleased to participate in what proved to be a very constructive and inclusive discussion regarding the consultation process for the future of the Minor Injuries Unit at Chalmers Hospital.

“I am very happy that the original options have meantime been taken off the table, and I feel reassured that the that Aberdeenshire Health & Social Care Partnership will now be liaising with the Friends of Chalmers Hospital and the local community in deciding the future of the MIU."