Campaigners for the Vale of Leven Hospital have slammed Scottish Health Secretary Shona Robison after she claimed the facilities would be closed completely if a new A&E service was ever opened at the Golden Jubilee Hospital in Clydebank.

Ms Robison met campaigners and MSP Jackie Baillie last Thursday to discuss reinstating services at the Vale of Leven Hospital – including accident and emergency – which were cut under the then Labour government 10 years ago.

During the meeting Ms Robison said that if an A&E service were to be reinstated north of the river at the Golden Jubilee, the Vale Hospital would be shut down completely.

Sam Paton, vice chair of Hands off Our Vale Hospital, told the Reporter: “This was a box ticking exercise for the Health Secretary. It was clear she didn’t want to be there.

“When she said she would shut the Vale if the Golden Jubilee got an A&E, I was disgusted. She upset a lot of people. I don’t know if she meant to say it, but she did, and people were outraged.

“She was not willing to discuss an A&E through the north west corridor, but basically told us if we’re looking to sustain and develop the Vale, the Golden Jubilee would suffer and vice versa.” The Health Secretary was also quizzed about contingencies for road blockages that hinder emergency service vehicles, and she told the group it was an issue for the Scottish Ambulance Service, which can use an air ambulance if necessary.

It was also noted that in other hospitals, the Red Cross Retrieval Service is used where patients discharged are taken home and checked by staff.

The Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley, the closest A&E to the Vale, does not currently allow this service to work out of its hospital, which leaves patients from Dumbarton and the Vale discharged during the night left to get taxis or other transport home.

Brian Ronald, chairman of Hands off our Vale Hospital campaign, said: “We spent a great deal of time talking about the lack of availability of ambulances in our area and reports of patients waiting up to 50 minutes for emergency services to arrive after having a stroke. We discussed the same issues at length during our previous meeting with the Cabinet Secretary three months ago and it is disappointing that no progress appears to have been made yet.” Ms Robison also noted she was looking into the idea of ‘mobile hospitals’ to give people an alternative to visiting A&E, and educating people on when it’s appropriate to attend A&E in the first place.

Ms Paton said: “These solutions are not practical, if the Erskine bridge is closed, and if people have an emergency they need an emergency service. It’s not enough to put people off going to A&E. They can justify two emergency rooms in Glasgow just minutes from each other, but not one here. It’s disgusting.

“Shona did mention another meeting soon but I’m very doubtful this will ever happen. We were only given a couple of days notice for this meeting.

“To give us an ultimatum like she did was very unprofessional, she was basically telling us we have a choice between the Vale and the Jubilee. She upset a lot of people.” Jackie Baillie, Dumbarton and the Vale’s MSP, said: “Our local community has pulled together to campaign so it is bitterly disappointing that Shona Robison has dismissed all of our options for a new A&E department to serve people in West Dunbartonshire, and Lomond. The opening of the new hospital in the south of Glasgow and the closure of the Western Infirmary leaves a huge gap in provision for patients.

“Her predecessor Alex Neil MSP never asked us to choose between the Vale and the Golden Jubilee because he understood that our communities need both. We will not be frightened away from fighting for the health services we deserve and we will continue to campaign for A&E because we know that it makes sense. Enhancing and improving services at the Vale is an absolute priority and it must go hand in hand with a north of the river A&E. Our community deserves both.” Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “I had a very positive visit to the Vale of Leven hospital where I was impressed by the staff I met as well as the range of services provided. The hospital is seeing and treating an increasing number of patients and the unique model of care is working well. Staff were also enthusiastic about looking at opportunities to further enhance the services on offer.

“I also had a very constructive meeting with local residents and MSP Jackie Baillie where I expressed my support for exploring opportunities for extending and enhancing services at the Vale of Leven. I am committed to ensuring that all patients have access to the right care, in the right place at the right time. In order to achieve this, the Scottish Government is committed to investing in the integration of health and social care services to support better provision of care within communities and in people’s homes.

“I am happy to continue these discussions with local representatives and stakeholders. My door is always open.”