Health service has failed rural Tayside

Sir, - I read the headlines about the reduction in health services in Angus with a sense of here we go again.

I was appointed consultant physician with an interest in cardiology, Angus, based in Stracathro Hospital, taking post on December 1 1983 and retired in 2009, as consultant cardiologist, from Ninewells Hospital.

I still live in Brechin, and have noted the continued dismantling of medical and nursing provision across the county. When I arrived, there were nearly 1,000 hospital beds in Angus across primary and secondary care, now mostly gone.

When the closure of Stracathro was first mooted some 20 years ago, I was interviewed with others on BBC and observed that while a centre of excellence was admirable, it did not help if you died getting there, hence the need for distributed services.

Since then, acute services have centred on Ninewells Hospital (a superb hospital) which is undeniably distant from the remoter parts of Tayside. The changes in hospital management of patients has led to speedy, often unduly so, and deeply inconsiderate discharges.

With particular regard to Stracathro, Block A’s repair and maintenance is a disgrace. Block B (surgical) is a striking and wellresourced contrast, where wound infection rates compare favourably with Ninewells, and where there are three modern theatres.

Despite spin, the care in Stracathro remains superb. NHS Tayside has failed outlying districts of Tayside in an admittedly admirable attempt to resource Ninewells but for those distant from such a superb centre, that is cold comfort.

It is time to think again for those charged with decision making. Dr T S Callaghan. The Mary Acre, Argyll Street, Brechin.