MP seeks answers over the future of valued community hospital

RICHARD Lochhead, the SNP MP for Moray, will hold face-to-face talks tomorrow with senior executives at NHS Grampian amid mounting concerns over the future of one of the main community hospitals in the area.

He is due to meet Richard Carey, the chief executive of the health authority, to discuss fears amongst staff that Leanchoil Hospital in Forres could be closed or downgraded as part of a series of spending cuts.

Mr Lochhead announced his plans to meet Mr Carey after a meeting with hospital staff, local GPs and union representatives.

Mr Lochhead said: "Leanchoil provides a range of services from convalescent care to blood transfusions and a highly valued palliative care suite, services that are used by patients from throughout Moray and beyond."

He added: " I am meeting NHS Grampian's chief executive on Friday and I will be asking him what the plans are for Leanchoil Hospital and where it fits in to the overall direction of the NHS in Moray and the wider Grampian area."

An NHS Grampian spokeswoman said "The capital plan for 2010-11 was approved by the NHS Grampian Board on 1 June and included the need to prepare a new business case for the replacement of the Forres Health Centre and aspects of Leanchoil hospital.

She added: ""A planning process involving the public, staff and other stakeholders is being taken forward to agree the broad shape of health services in the Forres area for the future - it is within this process that inpatient services currently provided at Leanchoil Hospital are being considered. We are aware of the concern any uncertainty could cause and are therefore keen to accelerate the finalisation of plans for the new facility in consultation with all the key groups."