Published: Thursday, 18th June, 2009 8:50am

Residents urged to support cottage hospital

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A LETTER-writing campaign has been launched to secure the future of Edington Hospital.

Last Wednesday, residents quizzing council and NHS Lothian chiefs over proposals to alter facilities at the cottage hospital were urged to flood the local authority with dissenting letters in a bid to save at-risk services currently provided by the Edington.

'It"s absolutely crucial that people write to the local authority expressing their views on Edington,' said North Berwick chairman Pat Burton. 'The decision-makers have to understand that the hospital really matters to local people.'

Question marks hang over the fate of the health facility following publication of a joint East Lothian Council/ NHS "Older People"s Strategy" which proposes reducing pressure on beds by placing greater emphasis on at-home care for the county"s elderly population. Among the options contained in the strategy

document is the 're-provisioning' of services at the Edington, and Abbey Home for Older People – both North Berwick – and Belhaven Hospital in Dunbar.

North Berwick Community Council chairman Pat Burton said health chiefs had 'totally miscalculated' the emotional attachment to the Edington.

'Many questioners felt to include Edington Hospital in a strategy designed exclusively to look at future services for the elderly revealed a lack of understanding of its current role and its importance to the community of North Berwick.'

Edington Hospital currently provides nine GP beds offering respite, palliative and terminal care. Additionally, it treats more than 2,000 minor casualties a year.

Mrs Burton added: 'Speakers from the floor questioned the logic behind proposals that would force added costs on facilities [in Edinburgh and Haddington], when services are already provided so well locally.'

In a statement, Gerry Power, general manager of East Lothian and Midlothian Community Health Partnerships, NHS Lothian, said: 'The majority [of residents at the meeting] came to express unfounded concerns that we are planning to close Edington Hospital. We want to hear people"s views on what they want from older people"s services in East Lothian.'