Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter | News | Call for Sturgeon to protect the Vale

Thursday, 20th November, 2008

Published: Tuesday, 20th May, 2008 10:30

Call for Sturgeon to protect the Vale

By Martin Donegan

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Health minister Nicola Sturgeon

CAMPAIGNERS fighting plans to cut services at the Vale of Leven Hospital have called on Health minister Nicola Sturgeon to back their efforts.

Furious Jim Moohan of Hospitalwatch has written to Ms Sturgeon claiming maternity and mental heath service cutbacks were being pushed through under a “cloak of secrecy”.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (GGC) has outlined plans to relocate 36 adult and elderly acute mental health admission beds from the Vale’s Christie Ward to Gartnaval Hospital in Glasgow.

It also proposed changing the Community Midwifery Unit (CMU) at the Vale by transferring all births to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.

Jim Moohan

That would leave peripheral ante-natal and post natal pregnancy assessment services for new mothers.

Public consultations in both these areas are taking place.

But Mr Moohan insisted they were not good enough and vowed to fight GGC’s proposals.

He said: “We appreciate Ms Sturgeon’s commitment to consider our concerns and we hope she can protect our communities.

“Sadly, though, a cloak of secrecy has descended over the public meetings concerning services at the Vale. We acknowledge that the period of the consultation has to be honoured.

“However, it must be open and transparent to all.But from what has taken place so far it’s clear the only option is centralisation."

However, a GGC spokeswoman, said that GGC is “absolutely committed” to delivering an effective public consultation by working closely with the Scottish Health Council and the Scottish Government.

She added that leaflets have also been distributed at libraries and other outlets across the area.

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