Call for answers on out-of-hours service
The petition organised by local Liberal Democrats against NHS Lanarkshire’s proposals to move the GP Out of Hours Service for Rutherglen and Cambuslang from the Victoria Infirmary to Hamilton or Airdrie will be sent to the Scottish Health Secretary, Shona Robison MSP, in the next few weeks.
Rutherglen Liberal Councillor Robert Brown said this week that the petition had already generated many hundreds of signatures – by post, by door-to-door collection and on the internet.
And Parliamentary candidate Tony Hughes pointed out that many local people had not simply signed the petition but had also added comments making their feelings very clear.
Councillor Brown said that Lanarkshire Health Board had retreated to the extent that they were now going to wait for the outcome of the national review of GP Out of Hours services before deciding what to do about the local service but it was clear the future of the service lay in the hands of the SNP government in Edinburgh.
Robert said: “It has been clear since I first attacked and exposed the Health Board plans that moving the service from the Victoria was a very bad idea – and local people have been outraged at the proposal. Indeed, if I had not realised the implications of this issue and attended the Health Board’s consultation meeting, most local people would not even have known about the proposal.
“But it is equally clear that it is the SNP government who call the shots on this - so our petition will be going to the Health Secretary in due course. Anyone who wants to add their support to the fight against the Out of Hours changes can do so by adding their names to the petition on my website at www.robert.brown. org.uk under ‘Campaigns’.
“I have to say I was extremely disappointed with the reply I got to my letter of protest to the Health Secretary – which simply recommended that I engage with the local NHS Lanarkshire consultation.
“She seemed not to really be aware of the Rutherglen and Cambuslang context and the long-established connection with the Victoria Infirmary.
“She did however confirm that the final decision rested with her – and we know how centralised an approach the SNP government takes to everything.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “As has already been made absolutely clear by the Scottish Government and NHS Lanarkshire, the review conducted by NHS Lanarkshire will be aligned with proposals flowing from the national review in a way that strengthens and enhances future primary care out of hours service provision in Lanarkshire.” Tom Greatrex, Labour candidate for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, has called on the board of NHS Lanarkshire to make the future of local out-of-hours services clear, following the SNP’s national review of services.
Tom has written a letter to the chief executive of NHS Lanarkshire, Calum Campbell, seeking assurances that no changes will be made until a national review is completed.
Local residents have been concerned by proposals which could see them have to go to Hamilton or Airdrie for an out of hours appointment.
Mr Greatrex said: “As it stands, Rutherglen and Cambuslang remain in the table of changes in the consultation document available on the NHS Lanarkshire website.
“To avoid any confusion, I am asking for you to make it absolutely clear that the arrangement whereby Rutherglen and Cambuslang out-of-hours care is currently covered by the Victoria remains unchanged, and that will continue to be the case after the conclusions of the SNP government’s national review have been published.”
Following a meeting between local MSP James Kelly and the chief executive, it is understood that the board is to publish its conclusions in late May.
Mr Greatrex continued: “NHS Lanarkshire and SNP ministers have 2500 reasons to think again on changes to out-of-hours changes.
“Proposals to move Rutherglen and Cambuslang out-of-hours to Airdrie and Hamilton remain published on the NHS website. Local people have made it clear that they want these services to remain at the Victoria.
“NHS Lanarkshire needs to act now to protect access under this review - and after the SNP’s national review which is still to take place.
“The SNP government need to do more to support local NHS services. Just last week Scottish Labour pledged to fund 500 extra GPs on top of our commitment to 1000 extra nurses.”
An NHS Lanarkshire spokesman said: “In relation to Rutherglen and Cambuslang out- of- hours services, we will await the outcome of the national review of out- of- hours services before reviewing what, if any, changes would be required.”