10th
August 2007
Talks Focus on Bridging the Health Gap
Speaking after meeting with NHS Greater
Glasgow and Clyde Chief Executive, Tom Divers, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde,
Duncan McNeil, said:
“It was
good to discuss some positive developments, such as the staff appointments which
the hard-won stability at the IRH is making possible.
“But we
also discussed some difficult issues. On
car parking charges at Inverclyde Royal, I have explained to both Mr Divers and
the Minister that spaces at the IRH are not abused by commuters.
Sadly, from my discussions with Mr Divers, it seems that the Health
Minister’s refusal to intervene is being interpreted by the board as a green
light to proceed.
“I also
urged him to look at the wider question of access to services and patient
transport as a whole – rather than focussing on the one narrow issue of car
parking.
“As well as
warning Nicola Sturgeon against any change in the funding mechanism for health
boards which would take money away from Greater Glasgow and Clyde, I made the
case to Mr Divers that Inverclyde’s particular health challenges must be
recognised when funding for the new Community Health Partnership is agreed. While
he can’t give me any cast-iron guarantees that this will be the case, he does
appreciate our needs and I am optimistic that these will be reflected in any
funding allocation.
“We also
discussed my concerns that the latest review of maternity services across the
Clyde area will have its sights on our Community Midwife-led Unit.
Sadly, there seems to be a move to blame local women for losing
confidence in the CMU and voting with their feet by giving birth instead in the
consultant-led unit at Paisley’s RAH. If
that is the case, then the solution must be improving and restoring faith in the
services at the IRH, not the closure of the CMU.
Again, I made this point forcefully to the Board Chief Executive at our
recent meeting and, when the announcement is made regarding who will run this
review, we must be ready to make our case to them with equal vigour.”
ENDS
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