A STEERING group designed to stave off the threat of closure of a county hospital ward has been set up.

Fears were raised last month that ward two at Dunbar’s Belhaven Hospital, which dates back more than a century, could close later this year.

Ward councillor Paul McLennan called a public meeting, which was held earlier this month in the Bleachingfield Centre and was attended by about 100 people.

Mr McLennan will lead the Belhaven Hospital Campaign Steering Group and stressed there were many unanswered questions that needed to be cleared up.

He said: “We were told that £500,000 was needed to upgrade ward two.

“This investment is very much needed – we need more investment into the facility, not less, with Dunbar’s population growing.

“When we asked the NHS about other models of care to meet the possible closure of ward two the NHS were unable to elaborate.”

Currently, ward two is used for respite, step-down and palliative care, and has an average capacity of nine.

Meanwhile, ward three is a nursing home ward and has a capacity of 12.

The facility is often full, with a waiting list.

The steering group will be made up of representatives from Dunbar’s community council, the Dunbar and East Linton Area Partnership, local GPs, Sustaining Dunbar and the local churches.

Ahead of the meeting, Mr McLennan set up a petition, which has attracted almost 1,300 signatures, calling for the ward to stay open.

He added: “There is a very strong feeling in the town that ward two must be kept open and investment made into Belhaven Hospital.”

Among those who were at the meeting was Jacquie Bell, vice-chairwoman of Dunbar’s community council and a former East Lothian councillor.

She said: “The NHS reps also said that there will be a consultation.

“This needs to be a genuine consultation that will take heed of public views. NHS Lothian does not have a good recent reputation on consultations.”

David Small, director of East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership, told the Courier that the partnership was “committed to ensuring” both Dunbar and East Linton had the care facilities that met the needs of their communities.

He said there was “a bright future” for Belhaven Hospital and added: “The partnership will shortly start work to develop proposals for the hospital to create a truly integrated care facility.

“In addition, the partnership has recently developed services to provide more healthcare in people’s homes [Hospital at Home] rather than in hospitals and would like to see more people in the Dunbar and East Linton areas benefiting from this.

“While these plans are being developed, we need to ensure that we continue to provide high-quality, safe and effective patient care.

“The partnership is concerned that the physical environment of ward two at Belhaven Hospital is not fit to provide this.

“It does not meet the minimum requirements for control of infection, patient privacy and dignity; for example there are not enough hand washing facilities and the layout makes private conversations about care difficult.

“As a result, the ward has not been used to full capacity for at least two years.

“Assessments have estimated the minimum cost of refurbishment as around £500,000, and even then the ward would not meet modern standards.

“The other two wards are much closer to modern standards, with single rooms, some en-suite facilities and proper day rooms.”

To sign the petition, go to change.org/p/nhs-east-lothi an-council-keep-ward-2-at-bel haven-hospital-open