Community Hospitals in Aberdeenshire

What you told us

Across Aberdeenshire we have 9 Community Hospitals which provide a wide range of services for people in their local community - from inpatient care including: mental health, palliative and end of life care, complex clinical care, rehabilitation and enablement through to outpatient clinics and Minor Injury Units. Each of our Hospitals is unique.

We are currently undertaking a review of our Community Hospitals to better understand how we might use them in the future to ensure that people in all of our communities can access the treatment and care that they need. Phase 1 of the review included community engagement with the opportunity for all Aberdeenshire residents to take part.

A series of in person, drop-in engagement events were held across Aberdeenshire in the 9 Community Hospital towns during October and November 2025 with approximately 550 attendees across all dates. The public survey captured feedback on Community Hospitals from 2,286 respondents.

Key takeaways from the Public Survey were:

Local access is not just a convenience - it is a lifeline, especially for the most vulnerable.
Staff are the heart of the service, their approachability and continuity matter as much as clinical skill.
Clear, multi-channel communication are essential for trust and engagement.
Centralisation and service reductions are deeply unpopular and seen as detrimental to health outcomes and community well-being.
Community hospitals are valued not just for healthcare, but for their role in supporting local identity, employment, and resilience.

What we’re doing

In January 2026, the Integration Joint Board (IJB) considered the findings from Phase 1 of the Community Hospitals review, and agreed what should happen in Phase 2. These next steps include creating a 10-year route map and delivery plan to make sure hospital services remain sustainable and fit for purpose.

You can view the original consultation at: Community Hospitals in Aberdeenshire | Engage Aberdeenshire