A few years ago Chalmers Hospital in Banff had a walk in 24 hour A&E department, this was cut back to a 24 hour Minor Injury Unit and then cutback again to a daytime hours only MIU.

All three of the remaining 24 hour MIUs in the north east (Fraserbugh, Peterhead, and Huntly) were cutback to opening in daytime hours only in 2024. Even the MIU at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary closes at 8pm.

Anything requiring health treatment out of hours can mean a journey to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary with the only 24 hour A&E dept in Aberdeenshire which has to service a population of almost half a million people in the city and shire.

With this ongoing year on year cutbacks in health provision in the area it is important that as many people as possible let the powers that be know their concerns. Please, please contribute to this hospital review either in person at the walk-in events and/or via the online survey.

Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership are doing a consultation review of the community hospitals in the area. See https://engage.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/community-hospitals-in-aberdeenshire for more information