Continuing support for revised Brechin health hub proposal

Grahame Lockhart and Moira Robertson pictured outside Brechin Infirmary. (Andy Thompson Photography)

Public support for a new community health hub in Brechin is still holding, despite disappointment over proposals to develop the town’s former infirmary being turned down.

Members of the public were able to vent their frustration at a public meeting to discuss how Brechin Healthcare Group (BHG) can progress its plans for service delivery in the town, following an recent unsuccessful appeal to Scottish ministers seeking a community asset transfer of the infirmary building.

An initial approach to NHS Tayside had also been turned down.

But group chairman Grahame Lockhart this week said the outcome of the meeting had been positive overall, with consideration and suggestions as how the BHG can move on.

He said: “The first fifteen minutes were pretty much a rant where people expressed their feelings on the decision but there was recognition that we had to reluctantly agree that we wouldn’t be getting the infirmary.

“There was then four workshops looking at what people need or want from services; what’s possible in terms of looking at a range of operations for similar size sites or smaller location, using a public hall or buying somewhere.

"Another idea was Jenner Centre plus – how we can build on the services offered there. Finally, we asked what people themselves could offer, which led to a range of possibilities that could come out of that.”

Mr Lockhart said that the members of the public present were also in favour of engaging further with NHS Tayside and the Angus Health and Social Care Partnership to discuss what they can do to help with service delivery.

He also said that the BHG is keen to keep the public momentum going.

He continued: "It was a very positive meeting overall, although it maybe began negatively. We’ve been working on this for six years, and have learned a lot. We have an idea of what we’re trying to achieve and it was good to get other people from the community involved too

"We’ll be meeting as a group next week to discuss what came out of the workshops but we have to keep the momentum going, particularly because people there, not part of the steering group, gave good input and said that we can’t stop now.”