Insch Hospital closed during Covid ‘surplus to requirements’

More than half of respondents in a recent consultation said the permanent closure of inpatient services at the hospital would have a very big impact.

The report admitted the decision was “not aligned” with the preferences of many respondents.

Campaigners, who gathered outside before the meeting and watched the discussion take place, told BBC Scotland News they were “hugely disappointed and sad” with the outcome.

“The focus today was so much on the building,” said Allison Grant from Friends of Insch Hospital.

“We accepted the issues with the building and had offered to build a ward extension to accommodate 13 to 16 patients and there was no mention of that today.

“We are really disappointed that was not mentioned.”

Grant added that the people who responded to the survey felt their voices had not been heard.

She said: “Those impacts have not been properly accounted for; they have not had enough time to properly analyse the impacts.

“The survey closed on 31 July, and the papers were prepared for the 26 August, how much time is that to properly and responsibly analyse those impacts?”.