MSP hits out over Yorkhill unit closure
A MINOR Injuries Unit which was shut over the winter to ease pressure on the city’s biggest A&E will remain closed.
The health board has confirmed that there is no date to reopen the unit at Yorkhill and resources will remain focused at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Labour’s health spokesman Anas Sarwar believes the intention is to close the unit completely and is angry at “misinformation” and the “lack of consultation” on the closure.
A Minor Injuries Unit which was shut over the winter to ease pressure on the city’s biggest A&E will remain closed for the foreseeable future.
The health board has confirmed that there is no date to reopen the unit at Yorkhill and resources will remain focused at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Labour’s health spokesman, Anas Sarwar, believes the intention is to close the unit completely and is angry at “misinformation” and the “lack of consultation” on the closure.
Robert Calderwood, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde chief executive, has written to Mr Sarwar.
The health board boss said the pressure on the Queen Elizabeth A&E over the winter are still continuing and the MIU closure has to be kept in place.
Mr Calderwood said: “Unfor- tunately the activity levels seen in the winter are continuing and show no signs of reducing at present and so the temporary arrangements continue to be in force.
“I am sorry this has had an im- pact on local residents, but this was done to ensure emergency services at the QEUH were strengthened at a time when we anticipated them to be under significant pressure, which was the case, and continues to be the case.”
Mr Sarwar said there was local anger at the continued closure and at being told it was only temporary.
He said: “The consequence of this decision is sadly exactly what Scottish Labour feared – more pressure on the A&E at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital – already the most stressed emergency department i n the country.
“Local people are furious about this decision. There has been no information, in fact there has been deliberate misinformation, there has been no consultation and due process has not been followed.”
The Glasgow MSP said it looks increasingly like the unit will not be re-opened and feared that has been the intention.
He added “We believed all along that this was a deliberate attempt to undermine the unit so it can be closed permanently. That now appears to be the case.”