Vital role of cottage hospitals
Cottage hospitals in Dumfries and Galloway mean a great deal to the communities they serve.
That's why whenever concerns for their future are raised, justifiable or not, I am frequently contacted by constituents.
The community hospital concept has not always won favour in parts of the country, however, I'm pleased the network in south west Scotland has remained largely in tact.
They provide valuable service as a bridge between general hospitals and home; as an accessible setting for rehabilitation and for palliative care. For visitors local hospitals also tend to be more convenient to reach.
I read with interest this week statistics from the local NHS on the usage of our community hospitals, issued in response to a Freedom of Information request by the Scottish Conservatives.
Significantly, the figures reveal over the previous five years there has been a steady stream of patients treated in the community hospitals and they have also brought valued employment to the localities they serve.
Long may that be the case.
Central to the future
As town centres emerge from lockdown I'd like to encourage local people to support our shops as much as possible.
My own survey at Dumfries and others carried out elsewhere indicate strong support in communities for creating more vibrant High Street areas.
One key ingredient to deliver that outcome is for us all to support our local retailers as much as possible.
That will help the local economy and provide opportunities to see goods first hand while learning through the knowledge of experienced staff.
Shop local
I want to see as many local businesses as possible take up the Covid-19 support packages, including the most recent batch announced last week by the Chancellor.
Those schemes managed directly by the UK Government or distributed through the Scottish Government are not only a lifeline for enterprises suffering during the pandemic, they also filter down the supply chain to help the wider local economy.
Amongst the latest postings on the UK Government website are details of how qualifying businesses can register for such support as the 'Eat Out to Help Out' scheme aimed at protecting jobs in the hospitality industry.