East Lothian Courier | News | Urgent talks on health provision

Thursday, 20th November, 2008

Published: Thursday, 31st July, 2008 08:05

Urgent talks on health provision

COMMUNITY leaders were meeting on Thursday for urgent talks over the possible loss of services scheduled for the new multi-million pound Musselburgh Primary Care Centre.

Last night’s closed doors meeting of local organisations at the Brunton Hall had been called by Musselburgh and Inveresk Community Council in response to recent statements by Councillor Roger Knox, East Lothian Council’s representative on the board of NHS Lothian.

Mr Knox had warned that the local X-ray unit at Edenhall Hospital would be among the services to be moved out of the town when the new care centre opens on the site of the former Brunton Wireworks in 2012.

He also hinted that a proposed 60-bed unit for the elderly – included in a planning application in 2003 – was likely to be scrapped due to escalating costs.

NHS Lothian gained outline planning permission for the primary care centre in December 2007.

Then, the plans featured new accommodation for three GP practices and related healthcare services and clinics, including some currently provided at Edenhall Hospital, such as podiatry, physiotherapy and outpatient clinics.

Community council chair, Alan Hay, said: “Although I’ve officially been told by council and health board representatives that no decision has been taken yet, we know for a fact that the X-ray unit won’t be going into the new care centre.

“It’s important that we don’t lose any facilities, as we’ve got a rapidly increasing population.”

A public meeting will take place in September.

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