Question reference: S6W-27084
- Asked by: Alexander Burnett, MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 25 April 2024
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Current status: Answered by Neil Gray on 7 May 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government how long a hospital must be closed before it is formally recognised as closed.
Answer
The Scottish Government and COSLA’s Planning with People guidance sets out how NHS boards, Integration Joint Boards and Local Authorities should involve people and communities throughout the development, planning and decision-making process for service change. The closure of a hospital is an example of service change which requires significant levels of engagement by NHS Boards with stakeholders including patients, the affected community and elected representatives.
In normal circumstances, a hospital would only be closed following engagement and consultation and as a result there is no formal definition for how long a hospital must be closed before being officially recognised as such.