Patients urged to have say on Lightburn future
PATIENTS and their families are being urged to share their views on controversial plans to shut a Glasgow hospital.
The official consultation on the closure of Lightburn opened yesterday, and is seeking the opinions from any interested groups who would be affected by services being transferred elsewhere should the proposals go ahead.
For the second time in six years, the East End facility is under threat after Nicola Sturgeon overturned similar plans in 2011.
Elderly people who are recovering from an illness, or who have been injured, are those who will mainly be affected by the plans to move the rehabilitation facilities in the north east of the city.
As previously reported by the Evening Times, campaigners fighting to save the hospital fear its fate has already been sealed, as most of the facility has been boarded up.
They argue health services should stay local, and say nothing has changed at the site since 2011 when the plans were rejected by the now First Minister.
The Scottish Government could call a halt to the plan as the Health Secretary, Shona Robison has the power to intervene.
Labour MSP Anas Sarwar previously called for the SNP to put a stop to the plans, while Catriona Renfrew, director of planning, at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said health services have moved on to a new model of care which the east end hospital doesn’t fit any more.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde are proposing to transfer rehabilitation services to “more appropriate settings”, for example in other hospitals or in local community settings.
Acute inpatient rehabilitation facilities would move to Stobhill hospital, while community rehabilitation would be done in local care venues.
Acute day services and all outpatient clinics would be run at Stobhill.
A spokesman for NHSGGC said: “The consultation process is now open and I would encourage patients, carers and the public to share their views on what is being proposed.
“Our proposals are in line with local and national policy to provide care for older people which will enable them to stay in their own home or have care provided in a more homely setting, accessing acute hospital services only when essential.”
The health board say the plans, if given the green light, would allow elderly patients to return home sooner, and have a more modern standards of care with less return appointments.
They also say outpatients will be able to access services all at once with fewer repeat appointments, and transfer across sites for investigations.
Patient who no longer need acute treatment but are not fit enough to return home will also receive care in a more homely setting within the community, according to the health board.
Anyone who wants to contribute to the consultation is asked to contact John Barber, Patient Experience Public Involvement Manager, by calling 0300 123 9987 or e-mailing Public.Involvement@ggc.scot. nhs.uk.