Sandy Morton says

June asked me to add the following comment

" just to remind everyone that there is an NHS Consultation Review this Tuesday in the Garrison from 4 - 6. Go along, make a fuss, make your views heard. This isn't just about the pharmacy now (bad as that is) it is now about losing our Health Service.   One doctor during the day and paramedics, plus NHS 24, at night is what the NHS reviewers are talking about." 

Stephen Dobbin says

Just to clarify the Health Review in the Garrison tomorrow is a surgery style/drop in meeting, not a full blown bums on seats 2 hour long meeting. Feel free to pop in and ask the NHS staff your questions re the future of all the Health Services on the island, and not just the pharmacy. There is a chance that Lady Margaret Hospital will be affected by this review, as well as the Day Centre so it is vital that as many people as possible question them.

Sandy Morton says

Thanks for the comment Stephen but no thanks for the content.  I think we need to turn out in force and if the AAHB delegation miss the last ferry they might realise what being stranded on an island (our choice) is really like!

Sandy Morton says

Very disappointing meeting - the matters which are of most concern to us were not on the agenda.

June Allison says

Shambles is the best description! What were they thinking of? I was told one person turned up in Arran - but as I pointed out maybe Arran doesn't have as much at stake as Millport.

Gillian Docherty says

The meeting on Tuesday evening was about the whole of NHS Ayrshire and Arran; it was not a specific meeting about Cumbrae. A public meeting will be announced and held on the island very shortly regarding Cumbrae. I would suggest that anyone wishing information on the Cumbrae Health review contact a member of the public reference group (contact details for the chairperson were given out on the information sheet handed out at the meeting in the garrison on Tuesday evening) instead of listening to rumours.

June Allison says

Sorry Gillian but I don't think it is up to the public to find out what AAHB are doing by chasing round the town trying to find someone who is on the Review Body. I think it is up to the Health Board to tell us what is happening. This Consultation meeting was poorly arranged, badly advertised (the wrong venue being given) and it ended up with Jean Kerr running round the town with posters to advertise the event.

If the public had more information the "shambles" need never have happened in the way that it did.

It ended up with 3 meetings with 3 different versions of events being given.

One small mention of the Review Body, those who are not OAP's, part of CCDC, have a child at school or work at the hospital do NOT have a representative on the Board - As this is a very sizeable portion of the community I think this is something that should be looked at and addressed by the chairperson.

When people are not given any information they will, of course, listen to rumours.

Paul Watling says

Don't know how useful this link will be, but it does seem to be posting minutes of the PRG if not the steering group

http://www.nhsaaa.net/how-to-get-involved 

Stephen Dobbin says

The Cumbrae Public Reference Group (PRG) minutes can be viewed at

http://www.nhsaaa.net/3104.ASPX

In the very near future there will also be a Public Meeting held in the Town Hall to which everybody will be invited to attend.  The PRG are currently involved in shaping the way forward for the Island's Health Services and we are very positive as to the outcome. However, there will be difficult decisions to be made, and we all accept that.  Any change is difficult, however the PRG are using this opportunity to hopefully improve the Island's Health Services and take these changes forward for the benefit of the community.

We hope soon to distribute a leaflet giving details of the aims of the review board.  This leaflet can be returned to the group with any suggestions or questions which you may have, which will enable the group to have as many answers as possible for the meeting.

Thank you

Stephen Dobbin

Deputy Chair

Cumbrae PRG