SONGS OF PRAISE FOR THE EDINGTON HOSPITAL
Crowds turned up on a sunny Sunday morning to sing the praises of the Edington hospital in North Berwick, six months after the doors were suddenly closed by East Lothian Health & Social Care Partnership (ELHSCP) and staff and patients relocated to East Lothian Community Hospital in Haddington.
Residents of all ages gathered outside the hospital to listen to uplifting songs performed live by the 40-strong Gospel Choir, North Berwick.
The event, supported by the local Co-op, raised £168.55 for the Hands Around the Edington campaign, which was set up by a local commissioning group comprising North Berwick Community Council (NBCC), North Berwick Coastal Health & Wellbeing Association and the Friend of the Edington to represent the collective voices of the community in pushing for the full reinstatement of services at the hospital.
Judy Lockhart-Hunter, Chair of NBCC, said: “Speaking to a lot of the people who came along, the feeling of injustice is still very strong and the sense of loss acute. I’ve heard many stories of long hospital trips that could have been avoided had the Edington been open. The Edington holds a special place in people’s hearts here and we will keep the pressure on ELHSCP to ensure that it is reopened as soon as is feasible.”
Among the audience were Steering Group MSPs Craig Hoy and Martin Whitfield, as well as Shadow Secretary for Health and Social Care, Jackie Baillie
Craig Hoy MSP said: “I would like to thank the gospel choir and everyone involved for an enjoyable morning which once again drew attention to the need for NHS Lothian and East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership to urgently reopen the Edington. The onus is also on the Scottish Government to deal with the underlying staffing and recruitment problems which are reportedly forcing local NHS managers to keep the hospital closed. I will continue to press the Scottish Government to engage on this issue and do whatever is needed to reopen this vital care and treatment facility.”
Martin Whitfield MSP added: “It was wonderful to join with the Community at the sing along event on Sunday organised by Hands Around the Edington. It was heart-warming to see so many people out enjoying themselves and singing in support of The Edington. A roadmap to the reopening must now be agreed.”
In the last review held by NHS Gold Command on Thursday 24th February, the score determining reopening prospects for the Edington stood at 9 (out of 9), unmoving since criteria were set by ELHSCP the month prior. Ongoing staff shortages and lack of bed supply are still cutting deep into operational woes across the region.
Hilary Smith, co-chair of North Berwick Coastal Health & Wellbeing Association, said: “It’s deeply disheartening to keep hearing that the health board is struggling to recruit and retain senior nursing staff and a stark indication that real reform is needed. There are two issues here, short-term cover and long-term planning. The two are often conflated but the problems/solutions are different and we have asked to see what more creative recruitment strategies are in place to stem this brain drain.”