I’m disappointed to learn today that Aboyne Community Hospital is remaining closed for the time being and will not reopen at the end of the month as was hoped.

However, I have been assured that the nursing vacancies that have caused the closure are being filled, and the reopening is a delay rather than permanent closure.

There has long been a concern over the closure of community hospitals in Aberdeenshire West, and I continue to campaign to reopen them. I recognise the difficult time for healthcare teams in Deeside and further afield, who I know are doing the utmost to provide excellent patient care, and I thank them for all their hard work.

Read my comments from when the closure was first announced last month:

Hospital ward in Aboyne forced to close due to 'staff shortages' (pressandjournal.co.uk)