Netherlea Hospital campaigners have given NHS Fife an angry reception at a meeting in Newport.
Around 100 people, including members of Friends of Netherlea Hospital and Newport, Wormit and Forgan Community Council, turned up at the meeting last week to discuss the future of the closure-threatened hospital with Glenrothes and North East Fife Community Health Partnership (CHP).
The Courier has been told the meeting was a “disaster.”
Friends of Netherlea Hospital secretary Martin Hepworth said: “The CHP seemed to have a different agenda from us. We thought it would be a discussion about the closure of Netherlea Hospital and they rabbited on about proposals to extend care in the community.
“There was a lot of anger at the meeting.”
With the elderly population set to increase dramatically in coming years, NHS Fife is shifting its focus from hospital care to care at home to prevent wards being inundated with ageing patients.
As part of this shake-up Netherlea, which can cater for up to 10 patients, appears to be earmarked for closure.
Mr Hepworth said the group was not opposed to more care at home, but claimed NHS Fife’s handling of Netherlea lacked transparency.
“They have spent millions on a new hospital in St Andrews, which is fine, and millions on refurbishing Adamson Hospital in Cupar, but they have not spent any money on Netherlea.
“The difficulty we have is they told us closing Netherlea is not in their minds, but by the end of May they were talking to staff at the hospital saying they were going to close Netherlea and see what they could do about the jobs. That’s when we found out about it.
“If that is the case, and they started the care review in May, then they made up their minds awfully quickly.Concerned”At the end of the meeting I asked if there was anybody in the room who approved of the CHP’s plans and not a single hand went up.”
The group is concerned Netherlea’s loss would make it difficult for those in the Tay Bridgehead area to visit patients should they be cared for at St Andrews, Cupar or Glenrothes, with the area badly served by bus services particularly in the evening.
Members have maintained their campaign to save Netherlea is not about sentimentality over the building, but concerns over patient welfare.
On Friday, a petition in support of Netherlea was launched and by the next day around 200 people had signed it.
CHP chairman Graham Watson said: “We had some very useful feedback from the community at our initial open meeting in St Andrews Community Hospital on August 29.
“The meeting in Newport provided a further opportunity for a lively and open exchange of views.
“Clinical leads were on hand to describe in more detail how we aim to develop local, community-based services for a greater number of people based in their own homes.
“There was clearly strong public support in the local area for Netherlea Hospital, and concern about the change in focus away from institutionalised care. These changes are essential to meet the challenge of ever-increasing demand for health services.
“I believe, however, there is general acceptance that it is right to maintain people in a home environment, and as independent as possible for as long as possible.”
He said issues raised during the meeting will be among the feedback considered when the CHP committee considers Netherlea’s future on October 4.