If you’re interested in the NHS plans for the future of the Astley Ainslie site, you may find these top tips to navigate the lengthy document helpful when sculpting your response. You can view AACT’s official response too.

Follow this quick guide to the Development Framework to write your own response:

1. On page 12 there is no commitment to retain Astley Ainslie, alongside four other named ‘campus’ sites which will be kept, three of them in Edinburgh.

2. On page 15 is the statement “We will also bear in mind our Anchor Institution responsibilities in the disposal of property we no longer have a use for. As an example, we would want to influence the ultimate use of the Astley Ainslie site, considering the need for affordable housing that many of our health and care staff need access to.”

3. The timescale with respect to Astley Ainslie is laid out on pages 64-65, which states (for 2023-2025) “Proposals for Astley Ainslie Hospital developed” and (for 2025-2027) “Anchor Institution Estates plans implemented”.

4. On page 30 are the suggestions that “significant additional capital funding will not be available over the next five years, over that already committed” and that there will be “a focus on investing in current estate and infrastructure”.

5. There is an acknowledgment on page 54 that “population health in Lothian generally is better than elsewhere in Scotland”, but that significant deprivation still leads to health inequalities.

6. We see on page 38 the statement that “NHS Lothian believe that it is important that we don't do what we think is right without seeking the views of the people we work with and for, and has sought to engage both staff and our communities to help us to understand what is important to people who live in Lothian and/or work within our services, to help inform our direction.”

These are the general questions put forward by the NHS to guide responses and points to consider:

Do you feel the LSDF addresses the issues that are most important. If not, why not?
We have found just two references to Astley Ainslie by name, and one comment significant by the absence of reference to it. Do you think this addresses the issues that are important?

Have we missed anything really significant in the LSDF? If so, what?
It is worth noting that NHS Lothian’s commissioned report “Biodiversity and climate change assessment for the NHS Lothian estate” is scarcely mentioned, and the value of the open space for convalescence, public wellbeing and the potential avoidance of certain healthcare and treatment costs is not acknowledged.

What, if any of the proposals set out in the LSDF worry or concern you?
You may wish to consider if the fact that no commitment is made about Astley Ainslie, beyond developing a plan and acting on it, is a concern to you. It also seems to focus on future affordable housing and not on other long term benefits.

What would you suggest that the Lothian Health and Care system could do to alleviate your concerns?
It may be a concern that very limited publicity was given to the Framework and the opportunities to comment on it.

Is there anything else you would like to tell us before we finalise our strategy?
This is a great place to provide illustrations of the benefits provided by the site now and in the past to you and your family.

You can share your thoughts on the LSDF by emailing loth.lsdf@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk