Cross Labels Government Response 'Blunt' and 'Short-Sighted'
Harriet Cross, the Member of Parliament for Gordon and Buchan, has strongly criticized Health Secretary Angela Constance regarding the permanent closure of Insch War Memorial Hospital. Cross described Constance’s response to the situation as "blunt" and characterized the decision to close the facility as "short-sighted." The MP represents the area where Insch is located.
Insch War Memorial Hospital, which originally opened in 1922, has been closed since 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. After six years of closure, it was confirmed that the hospital will not reopen. This outcome persists despite a 2021 pledge by former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon that failing to reopen the hospital would be "unacceptable." Cross stated that breaking this promise was "shameful" and described the facility as "imperative" for the community.
Cross had previously invited Constance to visit the hospital to see the condition of the building firsthand. However, the Health Secretary rejected this invitation. Constance stated that she has "no role in reconsidering or influencing" the hospital's future, effectively ending any immediate prospect of a site visit by the government official.
Government Rejects Reopening Amid Health Board Merger
The Scottish Government confirmed that the permanent closure of Insch War Memorial Hospital will not be reconsidered. This decision follows the merger of NHS Grampian with other regional health boards. A spokesperson for the government stated that reopening the hospital would not be cost-effective or safe.
Constance acknowledged the "strength of feeling" among residents regarding the closure. However, she maintained that the path forward is fixed. Aberdeen Business News reported that Constance noted while reopening the hospital might reduce pressure on Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, NHS Grampian advised that inpatient services are not a viable option. The health board cited that the building does not meet modern standards.
The confirmation that the hospital will not reopen marks the end of a long campaign by local representatives to restore inpatient services at the site. The facility has remained shuttered since the onset of the pandemic, with no plans for restoration under the current health board structure.
Local Representatives Urge Intervention
Cross and Alexander Burnett, the Member of the Scottish Parliament for Aberdeenshire West, had previously written to Constance urging her to save the hospital from permanent closure. Their correspondence highlighted local concerns about the loss of healthcare services in the area.
The rejection of their appeal underscores the finality of the government's position. Despite the efforts of both the MP and the MSP to intervene, the Scottish Government's stance remains that the merger process has solidified the decision to close the facility permanently.