Inverclyde SNP call for the Retention of Services at IRH

Sun, 9 Jul 2006

At a meeting of the Inverclyde SNP today, local nationalists called for the retention of hospital services at the Inverclyde Royal. The motion, as passed, was: 'In light of recent announcements by Greater Glasgow & Clyde Health Board, it is apparent that yet more services are at risk of being moved out of Inverclyde Royal Hospital. The Inverclyde SNP deplores this move and calls on the Labour Health Minister to completely reject any attempt by the health board to downgrade the IRH any further.' Speaking at the meeting Port Glasgow SNP convener, Jim MacLeod said: "The situation at the IRH is very worrying. It is not acceptable that people from Inverclyde should have to travel 25 miles to Paisley for treatment. "It is outrageous that yet more services are to be centralised at the Royal Alexandria Hospital when the Southern General Hospital is just 10 minutes up the road. There is no sense in having 2 major hospitals offering a full range of services next door to each other when the IRH, which lies 25 miles west, is being downgraded" Greenock & Inverclyde SNP Convener, John Crowther added: "Labour must take responsibility for this situation and stop taking the 'it wisnae me' approach.  Why is it that this Labour government is ripping out services from our hospital left, right and centre? "The IRH is a lifeline resource which serves not only Inverclyde but parts of North Ayrshire and Argyll, therefore everything must be done to save the services at the hospital or we will all be travelling to Paisley for more and more NHS services. "Furthermore, what impact could this have on the regeneration plans currently underway in Inverclyde?"