Thankfully through the hard work and dedication of Senior Charge Nurses and ably supported by the wider team, Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership have been able to recruit a number of staff to both Morven Ward at Glen O’Dee and Aboyne Community Hospital. Meaning they will be able to open both wards.

I’m delighted the senior management team have listened to local concerns about the short-term future at both Aboyne and Glen O’Dee.

There have undoubtedly been major staffing and organisational challenges for rural healthcare, caused by Covid-19.

But these wards are central to the communities they serve, and closing them in order to keep others open will not work for local people.

We will continue to campaign to ensure that health services in Aberdeenshire are best served to the needs of the community.