Community ‘deeply betrayed’ over closures of care homes

Members of East Lothian’s Integration Joint Board (IJB) – responsible for planning services for health and social care in the county – took the decision to close Blossom House at Belhaven Community Hospital, while also permanently shutting six in-patient hospital beds, at the end of March.

A similar move involving North Berwick’s Edington Hospital and the town’s The Abbey care home was also made, despite widespread protest from members of the public.

Councillor Donna Collins, who represents the Dunbar and East Linton ward, has now written to the chief officer of East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership (ELHSCP), Fiona Wilson, about the situation and called for a meeting to take place.

In the letter, Mrs Collins highlighted that she had been contacted by “residents, staff and community groups who are very concerned about the announcement and who are requesting further support”.

Councillor Donna Collins

She said: “Whilst I appreciate that making the best decisions for the people of East Lothian in an extremely challenging financial climate was never going to be simple, I am immensely disappointed with the outcome of the [original] meeting.

“It is my understanding that an assurance had been given that no decisions would be made whilst a public consultation was ongoing and that no closures would take place until alternative provisions were in place.”

And she added: “The community has every right to feel deeply betrayed.

“Not only has a decision been taken, but it appears that, in regard to Belhaven and Blossom House, it is with immediate effect.

“As an elected representative of this community, I would like to request an urgent meeting with you to discuss ongoing care provisions in our community, including alternative residential care.”

When the decision was taken, Mrs Wilson told the virtual meeting that the closures, along with cuts to funding for community services, were the “least worst decisions” possible for the cash-strapped health service.

The IJB receives funding from its partners, East Lothian Council and NHS Lothian, to delivery integrated health and social care services for people throughout the county. However, they confirmed millions of pounds worth of savings had to be identified, including “significant service redesign and the withdrawal of some services”.

A spokesperson for ELHSCP said: “East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership have received Councillor Collins’ letter regarding Belhaven Hospital and are arranging a meeting to discuss the concerns raised in more detail.”