South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has said re-opening Kirkcudbright, Moffat, Newton Stewart and Thornhill community hospitals should be a “no brainer”.

Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership is currently undertaking a public consultation looking at the future of the four cottage hospitals in Dumfries and Galloway.

The sites at Kirkcudbright, Moffat, Newton Stewart and Thornhill have not accepted any in-patients since the Covid pandemic, with only vaccination and some outpatient clinics maintained.

The consultation contains six different options for the hospitals ranging from re-establishing in-patient services to complete closure.

An earlier options appraisal exercise by the health board saw the creation of community health hubs emerge as the preferred option.

Colin Smyth has said: “Shockingly, at a time we face a care crisis in our region, with delayed discharge at epidemic levels, Kirkcudbright, Moffat, Newton Stewart and Thornhill have not accepted any in-patients since Covid, with only vaccination and some outpatient clinics maintained.

“The consultation contains six different options for the hospitals ranging from re-establishing in-patient services to complete closure.

“However, past consultations and reports have shown that people want these community hospitals to be used as step down facilities for those leaving the acute hospital but aren’t ready to go home and to deliver the maximum number of services within their communities.

“It’s a no brainer that this is what they are used for, as well as a hub for local outpatient services. It makes no sense for someone in Langholm or Newton Stewart to have to travel to Dumfries for what can be a five minute appointment with a consultant. We can use our community hospitals to provide more services locally just though better organisation.

“The time for talking is over and I hope we will soon see the views of the public acted upon by the health and social care partnership.”