Stand up for our hospital
Labour appeal as SNP ‘forgets’ the RAH
Renfrewshire Labour has slammed the SNP for failing to mention the Royal Alexandra Hospital in its local manifesto.
The Nats published their plans last week but Labour candidates have pounced on the document saying it doesn’t address concerns over the future of Paisley’s sick kids’ ward.
Ward 15 at the Royal Alexandra Hospital ( RAH) has been earmarked for closure with the Scottish Government’s health secretary Shona Robison set to decide its fate later this year.
But Labour activists say the SNP should tell voters what they think about the proposals ahead of local elections on May 4.
Labour candidate for Paisley East and Centre, Carolann Davidson, is leading the campaign to retain services at Paisley, said: “The SNP’s inability to even mention the RAH in their local manifesto, never mind any pledge on the future of Ward 15, tells you all you need to know.
“This is a vitally important issue for local parents, and is about the safety of Renfrewshire’s children. The SNP misled local families about the RAH children’s ward and now they don’t want to even support it. “Enough is enough. “I have decided to stand for Labour at the council elections because I know they are fully committed to protecting services at the RAH.
“We need local people standing up the local services that Paisley families rely on – not individuals who are too scared to even mention a subject at the risk of upsetting their party masters in Edinburgh.
“In May, local people have the opportunity to send Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP a clear message about how important the RAH kids ward is to Paisley by voting Renfrewshire Labour.”
However the local SNP leadership hit back, saying the party will fight to preserve and enhance services at the RAH.
Kenny MacLaren, Renfrewshire Council’s SNP group leader, said: “The manifesto is a broad brush approach to the policy intentions of an incoming SNP administration and as such does not contain detailed policy positions on every issue.
“However, it should be noted that health policy is mainly the remit of the Scottish Parliament and in the elections to the Scottish Parliament last year every constituency in Renfrewshire was won by the SNP. Across Scotland, Labour came in third.
“Th e c o u n c i l ha s a representative on the health board and, if the SNP win the election, our representative would stand up for the RAH and fight to not just maintain but enhance services in our local hospital.
“The issue of Ward 15 is not the black and white issue that Labour have been trying to make it out to be. The proposals for change would not result in the closure of Ward 15.
“These proposals still have to come before the Cabinet Secretary for Health.”