Strand1.1: Healthcare

Pain Point

Maternity services

• Maternity services at community hospital withdrawn - risk to life.

• Women have to travel 2 hours to Dumfries for check-ups and labour.

Specialist clinics

• Vulnerable people must travel to see consultants. Costs not always covered.

• Stranraer follows the Dumfries model - patients are routed to Edinburgh. The quicker, greener route (on a train line) is Glasgow.

Sexual health

• Pupil support for sexual awareness withdrawn - pregnancy and health risk

• Learners at Stranraer Academy have no safe space for guidance locally.

Mental health

• Increased issues post-Covid; social isolation; challenges for young men.

Solution

Wellbeing Hub

• Explore Community Asset Transfer of vacant Waverley Medical Centre for Health Hub

• Reinstate specialist clinics in town

• Offer sexual health support at Health Hub and in youth centres

Review routing to specialist clinics

• Grow Community Transport service to provide patient travel

• Work with young men to explore working with Unexpected Garden, Men’s Shed and other projects to improve mental health.

• Link with Volunteer Hub.

Next Steps

• Health partners already working together on Place Plan identify other key service providers and service users to be involved in collaboration

• Project group explore issues and opportunities

• Further engagement with service users to map journeys, needs and gaps

• Co-design solutions with service providers and service users

• Scope and cost options for Health Hub including Community Asset Transfer and online support, using existing buildings and services where sensible.

PARTNERS: NHS, Dumfries & Galloway Council, TSDG; Wigtownshire Community Transport, St John’s Ambulance, taxis, Wigtownshire Wellbeing, Wigtownshire Women & Cancer; private sector www.creatingstranraer.co.uk