No Spin. No Excuses. Just Answers.
ON THURSDAY November 6, Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership (AHSCP) will host a public consultation on the future of Kincardine Community Hospital (KCH). The session is framed as an opportunity to explore how services might evolve — but for many in the community, it raises serious questions about the hospital’s long-term role in local healthcare.
As I previously reported, KCH plays a vital role in delivering care close to home and in the commmunity — supporting rehabilitation, outpatient services, and step-down care that helps keep people out of acute hospitals. It maintains a critical balance in the local health system, consistently relieving pressure on acute services that are already stretched to the maximum and operating under sustained strain.
Already a flawed consultation
The consultation format itself is deeply inadequate. For possible decisions of this magnitude, a single four-hour weekday drop-in session falls short. If AHSCP were serious about openness, transparency, and genuine community care, it would have recognised the need for more — more time, more venues, and more effort to reach those most affected. This process should have been designed to include, not exclude. A weekend consultation in a central venue like Stonehaven Town Hall, with accessible timings and clear, honest materials, would have shown a real commitment to listening.
This is especially important given AHSCP’s own Strategic Delivery Plan, which identifies “early intervention and prevention” and “supporting those with greatest need” as its top priorities. KCH delivers precisely that — community-based care that prevents hospital admissions and supports vulnerable patients. If these principles are to guide decision-making, they must be reflected in the future of KCH.
With that in mind, here are twelve questions the community deserves answers to — grouped by theme:
Financial and Strategic Context
- AHSCP faces a £36 million funding gap for 2025–26 and has requested a £17 million recovery package. How is this financial crisis influencing decisions about Kincardine Community Hospital?
- Nearly £19 million in savings proposals have been approved. Which of these directly affect services, staffing, or facilities at Kincardine — and why weren’t these impacts disclosed in the consultation materials?
- AHSCP’s draft Strategic Plan identifies “early intervention and prevention” and “supporting those with greatest need” as its top priorities. How does reviewing or reducing services at Kincardine Community Hospital — which consistently delivers both — align with these goals?
Impact on Services and Patients
- What specific services at Kincardine are under review for closure, reduction, or relocation — and what clinical or financial evidence supports these proposals?
- How does AHSCP define “safe and accessible care” for rural communities like Stonehaven and its environs, especially for patients who rely on local outpatient, rehabilitation, and associated Allied Health Proffessional services provided at KCH?
- What is the long-term plan for the hospital site if services are withdrawn? Will it be retained for future NHS use as in the case of Invercarron (with no public consultation), repurposed for private care, or sold off entirely?
- How many patients currently use Kincardine for outpatient and rehabilitation services, and what modelling has been done to assess the impact on NHS Grampian’s acute hospitals if these are removed?
- What input have local GPs, community nurses, and allied health professionals had in shaping this review? Do they support the potential downgrading or closure of the hospital?
- What is the future of the out-of-hours Primary Care service (GMED) currently based at Kincardine Community Hospital — the service patients rely on when general practice is closed? Will it remain in place, be relocated, or withdrawn — and how will continuity of care be ensured for those who need urgent attention during evenings overnight and weekends?
Consultation Process and Accountability
- Why is this consultation limited to a single weekday drop-in session, rather than a series of accessible public meetings across the catchment area? How does this meet AHSCP’s duty to engage meaningfully with stakeholders?
- What alternative models of care are being proposed for the Kincardine catchment, and how will they be staffed given the recruitment crisis in health and social care across Aberdeenshire?
- How will AHSCP demonstrate that public feedback has influenced the final decision? What metrics or reporting mechanisms will be used to ensure transparency and accountability?
This article makes no apology for its length — because the future of Kincardine Community Hospital deserves more than soundbites. These questions are here to help residents cut through the jargon, challenge assumptions, and demand clarity.
Also, it must be recognised that this isn’t just about Stonehaven. Eight other facilities across Aberdeenshire are facing similar reviews — and we stand with every community navigating uncertainty. AHSCP has a duty to consult fairly, listen openly, and protect the services people rely on. The need for inclusion has never been greater.
If you value KCH now is the time to speak up – and you must. Please attend the consultation in person if you can and take these questions with you should you want to. If you can’t attend please follow this link and fill in the questionnaire:
https://engage.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/community-hospitals-in-aberdeenshire
Consultation Details:
Date: Thursday 6 November
Venue: Commmunity Centre
Time: 15:00 – 19:00