COMMUNITY groups have been warned not to draw “red lines” over the re-provision of local care services amid concern over the potential loss of a minor injuries service.

East Lothian Integration Joint Board (IJB) is drawing up plans to replace services provided by two cottage hospitals and two care homes in the county with alternative models, such as ‘extra-care’ housing.

At a public meeting on Tuesday at East Lothian Community Hospital in Haddington, health chiefs were warned that plans to replace the Edington Hospital in North Berwick would be “unacceptable” if it meant the loss of the Edington’s minor injuries service..

But they responded by warning that any decision by the board would be for the benefit of “all of East Lothian”, not just one community.

Councillor Fiona O’Donnell, IJB chairperson, told the meeting that drawing red lines was “not helpful”.

She said: “I do not think it is helpful to have a red line – saying if we do not keep minor injuries we are not in it.

“I represent all of East Lothian. We have to be mindful of equity of service for all so all can have access to services.

“The IJB will take a decision on what is best for East Lothian and we must get away from red lines.”

Her comments came after Deborah Ritchie, from North Berwick Health and Wellbeing Association, told the meeting that losing the minor injuries service would be unacceptable.

She said: “Our bottom line is minor injuries to stay in North Berwick. That has to be accepted for us to stay in [and be engaged with the process].

“It is a community view and a passionate view held by the community.”

Health bosses were also told that services at the Edington Hospital and The Abbey care home in North Berwick, Belhaven Hospital in Dunbar and Eskgreen care home in Musselburgh replaced with alternative models – had damaged trust in local communities.

The IJB, which is responsible for health and social care, agreed to move forward with the plans in December 2018.

But following a meeting with community groups in June last year where a proposed pre-business case was unveiled, it was claimed that the project was put on hold  as the focus was placed on opening the new £70million East Lothian Community Hospital in Haddington.

Andrew Milne, NHS Lothian project manager, told a meeting where the six-month plan was set out to create a business case for the re-provision of services, that they had been “busy” building a hospital.

Ms Ritchie told health chiefs that there was a lot of work to be done to regain trust after an apparent end to the consulting the communities involved.

She said: “There is a lot of disappointment in the community that we are at this stage and you have some repair work to do with the community.

“We were assured community representatives would be involved.”

And Dunbar community council secretary Jacquie Bell, who has been involved in discussions over the re-provision of Belhaven Hospital, added: “It is concerning that we are being presented with a timetable for six months. We were told we would be in co-production and given the opportunity to put our ideas forward.”

However, Alison Macdonald, chief officer of East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership, told the public meeting, which was attended by community representatives, that communities would be engaged during the six-month process.

She said: “We will be coming back to communities and will be engaging with them throughout the process. This is going to be working in partnership.”

Concern about community engagement was raised after local groups were told that plans would get under way last summer but were then put on hold as the team behind the project were caught up with the opening of the new hospital in Haddington.

Mrs Macdonald  said: “Shortly after the IJB’s decision to proceed with re-providing services, the partnership secured a Scottish Government grant to carry out a scoping exercise.

“Originally we had hoped this work would be completed by summer 2019, at which point we would be able to go back to the community groups we have been working with to set up project teams.

“However, there has been a delay because the team involved was also responsible for delivering the new East Lothian Community Hospital.

“The project team is now able to focus on our programme for transforming services for older people.

“The work, which will involve stakeholder engagement throughout, should be completed by late spring.”