MSPsspeak out on bid to shuthospital
TWO Glasgow MSPs have said they are still opposed to the closure of Lightburn Hospital now the plan has been put out to consultation.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has produced formal proposals to shut the East End rehabilitation hospital mostly used by elderly patients recovering from a stroke or with conditions such as Parkinson’s disease.
Glasgow Provan SNP MSP, Ivan McKee, has previously said the health board has not made the case for closure and has campaigned to keep it open.
He said: “I campaigned for the decision to designate the closure of Lightburn Hospital a major service change, precipitating a further formal consultation exercise.
“It’s the least these proposals demand. I am yet to be convinced the closure plans are consistent with the Government’s National Clinical Strategy. I will be engaging with the consultation process and urge everyone else with an interest in these services to do the same.”
The consultation takes place because it was decided the plan represents a major service change and a final decision will be taken by Scottish Government Health Secretary Shona Robison.
Anas Sarwar, Glasgow Labour MSP and the party’s health spokesman said the decision should not be delayed any further. Mr Sarwar, said: “This is just another attempt to kick this decision into the long grass – and almost certainly until after the council elections in May.
“SNP ministers in Edinburgh must stop hiding behind consultations. The Scottish Parliament has voted for the government to make a decision on Lightburn’s future and Labour want to see it stay open, as the SNP promised it would. Anything less would be completely unacceptable.
“Glasgow SNP MSPs have taken a vow of silence on this, no wonder after they abstained in Parliament when Labour forced a vote on the government taking a decision.
“People in Glasgow are sick of SNP politicians blindly doing what they are told by Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP in Edinburgh rather than putting Glasgow first.”