Commenting on the confirmation from NHS Lothian that a community ward at the Edington Hospital will remain temporarily closed due to continued NHS staffing pressures, Martin Whitfield MSP said:

“The continued closure is a devastating blow to a community that has fought for and supported this hospital. There is understanding that the pandemic has required NHS Lothian to plan differently, however, the short fall of a 1000 nurses and midwives in the Lothian area speaks of the years of underfunding and centralisation.

“The person who needs to get a grip of this situation is the Cabinet Secretary for Health, but so far he has failed to even agree a date to meet with Edington campaigners. This is just not good enough and North Berwick deserves better from the government.”