Fears out-of-hours services at hospitals could be lost for good

Concerns temporary closures in Fife may become permanent

Temporary closure of out-of-hours services at three Fife hospitals have been roundly condemned, amid fears it could become permanent.

Health Secretary Shona Robison has been urged to intervene, while NHS Fife chairwoman Tricia Marwick has been challenged to step up and save the services.

A staff shortage has prompted closure of primary care emergency services (PCES) at Queen Margaret, St Andrews and Glenrothes hospitals for three months from Monday.

Contingency measures put in place by Fife Health and Social Care Partnership will see patients referred to the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy.

North East Fife MSP and Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said the GP shortage was a nationwide problem which should never have been allowed to get to so serious.

He said: “The Scottish Government was repeatedly warned but failed to act in time.”

Mrs Marwick successfully campaigned against the closure of the out-of-hours service at Glenrothes Hospital in 2012.

Former NHS Fife board member Andrew Rodger said: “I would like to see Tricia Marwick step up and make sure this service continues. She fought very hard a few years ago to stop this happening at Glenrothes Hospital and now all of a sudden it’s to go.”

An NHS Fife spokesperson replied: “NHS Fife has made clear that this contingency should be temporary and that the FHSCP makes all efforts to both recruit and reinstate the service as quickly as possible.”

Fife Health and Social Care Partnership said it was unable to cover all the overnight shifts and the contingency measures would ensure patient safety.

Ms Robison said: “We expect Fife Health and Social Care Partnership to work within the resources available to meet patients’ needs.

“By the end of this parliament we will provide extra investment of £500 million per year which will increase the total primary care budget to 11% by 202122. We want a high-quality out-of-hours service which fully meets patient needs and we have invested £20m over the past two years.”

ANDREW ROGER