CHARLES KENNEDY MP JOINS THE FIGHT TO RETAIN COMMUNITY HOSPITALS

Published on Mon 14th Dec 2009

Jim Hume, Liberal Democrat MSP for the South of Scotland, was joined in Moffat at the weekend by the Rt Hon Charles Kennedy MP, who gave his support for the campaign to keep community hospitals across Dumfries and Galloway.

The MSP was also accompanied by Catriona Bhatia, prospective Westminster candidate for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale, during a tour around Moffat Community Hospital.

Jim Hume said:

"Wherever you are in the region it's clear that people and NHS staff want to see their community hospitals retained.

"But I think what's causing frustration among the population is the knowledge that the health board's preferred option is the most expensive one, and many including myself are finding it hard to understand why perfectly good facilities should be closed - and at higher cost than if they were retained."