A county-based MSP has quizzed new Health Secretary Michael Matheson MSP about the ongoing closure of the Edington Cottage Hospital’s only ward.

The North Berwick hospital’s ward closed in September 2021 for an initial 12-week period but has now been shut for nearly two years, with the majority of hospital services being relocated to East Lothian Community Hospital (ELCH) in Haddington.

Martin Whitfield, South Scotland MSP and former East Lothian MP, raised the ongoing closure in Parliament.

Mr Matheson said that officials had discussed the Edington in March but did not offer any further details.

Mr Whitfield used his follow-up question to ask if Mr Matheson would attend a scheduled meeting with local groups which had been arranged by East Lothian’s constituency MSP Paul McLennan.

But the Health Secretary said he did not know the meeting was happening, before, in Mr Whitfield’s view, he “passed the buck” to the local health and social care partnership.

Speaking afterwards, Mr Whitfield said: “Despite their best efforts, North Berwick residents and campaigners were unable to obtain a straight answer on the Edington Hospital from former Health Secretary Humza Yousaf, who has now washed his hands of the issue.

“Unfortunately, despite the appointment of a new Health Secretary, the Scottish Government’s apathy and evasion on the Edington seems to be unchanged, as Mr Matheson’s vague and unhelpful answers to my questions demonstrated.

“The fact that he was not even aware of the meeting organised by his colleague Paul McLennan highlights the lack of cohesion in the SNP Government’s approach to the issue.

“Their strategy is clearly to just keep kicking the can down the road and pass the buck to someone else.

“That was not acceptable in September 2021 and remains unacceptable now, and I will keep pressing for a resolution to the workforce and funding issues that necessitated the hospital’s closure in the first place.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Decisions on the operation of Edington Hospital are matters for the Integration Joint Board and the health board.

“We have been advised that Edington Hospital is not closed, and that the board continue to provide a significant number of services, and clinics are being delivered from the site to the local people of North Berwick.

“A public consultation will be held to help inform the future approach to delivery of services locally.”

Meanwhile, North Berwick Community Council has written to First Minister Mr Yousaf to express its unhappiness at the continued closure of the Edington, and request a meeting with him.

The letter said: “The new First Minister will recall that when he was health minister, we met in January 2022 when he assured us the hospital would reopen as we knew it. Our community is saddened that no progress or change has been made since then.

“Our community continues to be in a state of limbo which is having a detrimental effect on the health of many and we would appreciate your urgent attention.”