WHITE VAN Man

Services

IT WAS with total disbelief that I heard about the actions of health board bosses who refused to attend a public meeting organised by Oban Community Council (OCC).

The reason given by them was that they did not like the way chairperson Mairi Malloy talked about them.

Fact – points raised by Mrs Malloy are points already discussed by OCC.

Fact – health board officials are public servants and, as such, it is their duty to answer questions put to them by OCC.

As we all know, public health board officials have been avoiding answering questions about cuts at Lorn and Islands Hospital.

Cuts are causing concern to the community of Oban, especially those who require types of medical attention which are no longer available at the hospital.

Why will the health board bosses not discuss the centralisation of services within the NHS which entails the removal of all but a few essential services from rural hospitals to city hospitals?

If such well-paid public servants do not wish to answer questions or hear concerns of locals put forward by Mrs Malloy on behalf of the community, can I suggest to them that it is time they considered standing down and giving their position to somebody willing to do their job for them.

The fact of the matter is that underpaid nursing staff are doing their best under very difficult circumstances, at the cost of overpaid civil servants.

It’s time for change. Mrs Malloy has put her neck on the line – and I for one support her.