27th
March 2007
Health Minister to Settle IRH Future
The future of Inverclyde Royal Hospital
is settled, Health Minister Andy Kerr is set to announce today.
The
Minister will visit the IRH this afternoon and it is understood that he will
sign off NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s plans to keep Accident and Emergency,
the vast bulk of inpatient services and virtually all outpatient and day
services in Greenock.
The
plans were approved by the Health Board in February, following a consultation
exercise which saw the proposals attract an unprecedented and overwhelming level
of support from the people of Inverclyde.
Looking
forward to the announcement, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil,
said:
“I
am delighted that, after years of campaigning, demonstrating, arguing and making
our case, that the future of Inverclyde Royal Hospital is now settled.
The old board wanted to condemn the IRH to a death of a thousand cuts and
force 37,000 patients out of the IRH and up to Paisley.
Today, we’re looking at plans to keep A&E and almost all inpatient
and outpatient services here in Greenock.
“All
that remains for these plans to become a reality is for the Minister to formally
sign them off and I’m looking forward to hearing what he has to say when he
visits the IRH this afternoon.”
NHS
Greater Glasgow and Clyde unanimously agreed the retention of A&E services
and the vast majority of inpatient services at both Inverclyde Royal Hospital (IRH)
in Greenock and the Royal Alexandra Hospital (RAH) in Paisley.
The
plans also provide for the future expansion of outpatient and day treatment
facilities at both hospitals, as well as changes to the delivery of a number of
inpatient specialties.
ENDS
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