Health Centre
Still awaiting NHS for decision on site for new Health Centre.
Following over 2 years whilst NHS conducted an ‘option appraisal’ exercise we were advised that the new Health Centre would be in one of three places either in Melrose or Newtown St Boswells or some where in between ? However before a decision can be made a 'financial appraisal' of the three options has to be carried out and the results of this are still awaited.
However whilst the community had some involved in the ‘option appraisal’ process limited appraisal data has been made available with no access to scoring numbers before and after weighting factors or what factors were taken into account with financial assessment. No project plan giving progress or target completion date has been available or information on who in NHS will make final decision and when it will be made.
It would seem that the decision will be made behind closed doors at some date unknown but your village Community Council members and local councilor Elaine Thornton-Nicol are doing their best to look after villagers interests.
With the introduction of the Community Empowerment Act consideration was given to requesting a formal ‘participation request’ for the community to be more involved in the decision making process but decided against since being advised by local Councilor in November that a decision was imminent.
It is understood that the existing Health Centre building in Newtown was owned by the GPs not the NHS. Whilst awaiting the decision on new Health Centre the village was advised that the building was being sold but assurances have been given that despite being sold it will continue offering a health service as in the past. However recently villagers see that much work is now carried out by lead nurses or locum doctors reducing access to a particular doctor which is preferred by many patients.
Still awaiting NHS for decision on site for new Health Centre.
Following over 2 years whilst NHS conducted an ‘option appraisal’ exercise we were advised that the new Health Centre would be in one of three places either in Melrose or Newtown St Boswells or some where in between ? However before a decision can be made a 'financial appraisal' of the three options has to be carried out and the results of this are still awaited.
However whilst the community had some involved in the ‘option appraisal’ process limited appraisal data has been made available with no access to scoring numbers before and after weighting factors or what factors were taken into account with financial assessment. No project plan giving progress or target completion date has been available or information on who in NHS will make final decision and when it will be made.
It would seem that the decision will be made behind closed doors at some date unknown but your village Community Council members and local councilor Elaine Thornton-Nicol are doing their best to look after villagers interests.
With the introduction of the Community Empowerment Act consideration was given to requesting a formal ‘participation request’ for the community to be more involved in the decision making process but decided against since being advised by local Councilor in November that a decision was imminent.
It is understood that the existing Health Centre building in Newtown was owned by the GPs not the NHS. Whilst awaiting the decision on new Health Centre the village was advised that the building was being sold but assurances have been given that despite being sold it will continue offering a health service as in the past. However recently villagers see that much work is now carried out by lead nurses or locum doctors reducing access to a particular doctor which is preferred by many patients.