Friends of Insch Hospital and Community

A local charity campaigning to save Insch Hospital from permanent closure.

On a personal level, Insch Hospital is important to me. My Dad was patient there a few times, I remember watching the 2014 World Cup with him in his room. He sadly died before the final but won £30 in the family sweeper. Insch Hospital made his last weeks more comfortable. My eldest son also had a visit when he lost some Lego up his nose.

During lockdown, in March 2020, it was apparently a good time to shut the hospital completely. Local charity Friends of Insch Hospital and Community have been fighting to reopen and utilise the hospital building ever since.

As I have a connection to the hospital and know many of the committee, they asked me to design a poster for locals to share in their windows during lockdown. They were everywhere. The message was soon printed on large banners and could be seen across Aberdeenshire. Nicola Sturgeon came to the village while campaigning and she saw it. She heard the concern and promised to do something about it but politicians say these things on the campaign trail.

The We ❤️ Insch Hospital message is still being shared but even more of these local services have been closed. The charity continues to campaign, every year they hold the Strawberry Fair on the hospital grounds and raise awareness. I have designed the posters, programmes and site plans for the fair on three occasions now and I am proud to have contributed.

(Original photo of Nicola Sturgeon below was taken by Jeff Mitchell)