Health chiefs have come under fire for failing to launch a review into the impact of closing a north-east service overnight, despite taking the controversial step months ago.
Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership started a review of the region’s minor injury units (MIUs) in 2018.
It recommended that the hours of four facilities be cut, including at Chalmers Hospital in Banff.
At the end of last year the hours were changed, but part of the agreement was for a review to be carried out over six months to assess the impact of the move on the community.
Yesterday, at a meeting of the Banff and Buchan area committee, it emerged that the review is yet to begin.
Banff and District councillor, Glen Reynolds, asked partnership manager Mark Simpson to explain the scope of the review and Mr Simpson revealed that he did not know what it would consist of.
Mr Simpson said only that officers were collecting feedback and clinical data but said his team had not yet been told what was expected of them.
Mr Reynolds said he found it “extraordinary but not surprising” that the study had not begun.
Committee chairman, Andy Kille, said: “It’s a very good question, we’re halfway through and you don’t know how it’s being gauged.”
Councillor Ross Cassie claimed the partnership had been ignoring his letters of concern on behalf of residents.
Yesterday, he said: “Throughout the whole process the partnership has been avoiding scrutiny and, despite publicly telling the Press and Journal that it would, the partnership has never responded to my concerns.
“I appreciate there will be a review, which they don’t have a clue what it will look like, but I bet it will say ‘since we made the changes everything is hunky dory’ when it’s not.”
Mr Simpson responded: “We have been as transparent as possible and made everything public.”
