This is YOUR paper.. health service proposals
greater than Dundee or Angus, and further large housing expansions are planned.
My understanding was that the health service and local government were now working together in an expensive new integrated structure but the above would appear to suggest the opposite.
Despite the fact that proposed withdrawal of emergency surgery from PRI will most adversely affect rural areas of Perth and Kinross such as Crieff, Auchterader, Kinross and Highland Perthshire leaving patients far greater distances to travel to Dundee, the only proposed public consultation is in Pitlochry early on a Monday evening!
The consultation process is also flawed in that already all emergency surgery has stopped at PRI without any consultation with the public or general practice.
Given that the ambulance service is under great stress already, centralisation of services in Ninewells will only adversely affect not only patients but also family members and carers who will have to find their own way to Dundee.
The Scottish Government have repeatedly indicated their wish to improve the lot of the vulnerable in society namely the poor, the elderly, the chronically sick and disabled. It is hard to see how the decline in services provide by Perth Royal Infirmary achieves that goal.
Like many I am happy to support the First Minister’s proposal for an increase in taxation to support and invest in the Health Service but only a fool would pay more for less.
I would urge the people of this area to make their views known to the Health Board otherwise we may follow the example of Stirling and Dunfermline and lose our hospital altogether.
Alistair McCracken By email Nicola Sturgeon