Uncertainty over ward closures at an Angus hospital has had a detrimental effect county-wide, it has been claimed.
Montrose Infirmary was closed in April after the failure of heating and water systems, with its maternity unit reopening on Monday.
However, the GP ward, which is central to care for the elderly in the area, has yet to reopen.
And a demand for answers on Montrose Infirmary has been backed by a 400-name petition calling for “no more excuses” as anxious nurses await assurances over their future.
The Courier met a large group of nursing staff, based in Montrose, who said “silence is speaking volumes” over the ward and patients may be feeling the difference in their care.
One of the nurses said: “The belief is all the Montrose staff are at Brechin providing care but that’s not the case we’re at Whitehills in Forfar, Arbroath Infirmary, Little Cairnie (in Arbroath), Stracathro, and there’s a skeleton staff at Brechin, and the public need to know that.
“Some of us can be at a different place from one day to the next without notice, or can be in one ward one day and moved to another.
“And that’s quite unsafe, because sometimes you’re in charge of the ward you’re moved to and don’t know until you get there.”
During April’s closure the GP ward transferred to the inpatient unit at Brechin Infirmary, with patients admitted directly into Brechin.
The nurses asked not to be named but said they are representative of a “large” number of colleagues concerned about the potential withdrawal of an “essential local service”.
In Montrose there are 18-20 nursing staff on the ward, with up to 15 GPs from local surgeries visiting inpatients there on a regular basis.
It is understood a large number of NHS staff have co-signed the “no more excuses” petition put together by the group, with copies available in High Street shops.
“People are stopping us in the street and saying, ‘that’s you open again at least’ but it’s not true and we need to let people know,” said one woman.
The health board confirmed a meeting with local GPs will take place today.
A spokesman said: “We know that, understandably, local GPs have questions regarding the recommissioning of the infirmary building and ongoing progress with developments.
“At this meeting Dr Michelle Watts, associate medical director, Primary Care Services, and Mr Bill Nicoll, director of Community Services, will update GPs on progress and there will be an opportunity for discussion.”
Dr Kristien Hintjens was one of two town doctors who wrote to NHS Tayside, calling for the GP ward to be reopened as soon as possible.
She also accused the board of “potentially misleading the public” in the reasons given for not reopening the GP ward.
The nursing staff have backed those fears, saying they are unsure whether the ward will reopen and whether they may be permanently “used as bank staff”.
A statement from the group reads: “The Montrose GP ward nursing staff would like to support local GPs in their bid for information regarding the reason for the delay in opening.
“Like the GPs, the nursing staff have had to request a meeting with senior management to shed light on the situation.”
A nurse said sickness absence has been affected by the uncertainty, saying: “There are a number of us who are off because of this.”