FIGURES have revealed the Vale of Leven Hospital continues to outperform the Royal Alexandra Hospital in relation to cancelled operations.

The full set of figures for 2017 published by Information Services Division (ISD) this week reveals that 141 operations were cancelled by the RAH in Paisley last year due to capacity or non-clinical reasons – including 25 operations cancelled in December alone.

But only 12 operations were cancelled at the Vale of Leven Hospital last year for similar reasons.

In terms of waiting times, the stats show a quarter of patients attending A&E at the RAH in December had to wait more than four hours.

In the same month, more than 92 per cent of local patients at the Minor Injuries Unit in the Vale of Leven were seen within four hours.

Dumbarton’s MSP Jackie Baillie said the data shows that the RAH is struggling to cope with demand and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde should use spare capacity at the Vale of Leven Hospital to treat more patients locally.

The Labour politician told the Reporter: “These figures are a testament to the hard work and dedication of our NHS doctors and nurses at the Vale of Leven Hospital.

“When local patients are lucky enough to be referred to the Vale rather than the RAH they are more likely to avoid being told that their procedure is cancelled, often at the last minute, due to a lack of resources.

“The pressure on NHS services in Paisley is simply unsustainable.

“Too many local patients are still referred to the RAH for treatment when we should be making the most of the spare capacity available at the Vale of Leven Hospital.

“Investing in the facilities at the Vale of Leven Hospital and using the hospital to its full potential would improve services for patients in West Dunbartonshire, Helensburgh and Lomond and free up capacity across Greater Glasgow and Clyde.”

In response, a spokeswoman for the NHS said: “Staff at both the Vale of Leven and Royal Alexandra Hospitals continue to work very hard to ensure patients are treated as quickly as possible.

“We are sorry that, at times of high pressure, we had to postpone non-urgent operations at both hospitals. We made arrangements to re-book the patients affected as soon as possible.

“December was a very busy month for emergency departments across the country and a combination of high flu rates and spells of very cold weather meant that waiting times were, at times, longer than we would have liked.

“Our Minor Injuries Unit at the Vale plays a significant part in ensuring patients with minor injuries are seen rapidly and we would urge patients with a minor injury to attend this unit, or one of other three dedicated units at West Glasgow Ambulatory Care Hospital, New Stobhill and New Victoria Hospitals.”