West Renfrewshire SNP call on NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde to postpone workshop/consultation

Fri, 14 Jul 2006

Today two SNP politicians called on NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde to postpone their workshop consultation event planned for this coming Tuesday 18 July in the Tontine Hotel regarding the restructuring of children's health services in Inverclyde. Dr Bill Wilson, the SNP's parliamentary candidate for West Renfrewshire said: "I am calling on NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to postpone this meeting planned for this Tuesday night.  It is ridiculous the health board are holding a consultation event like this during traditional summer holidays when many people will be away.  This should be put off until the holiday period is over". He also added: "From what I have been told I also believe that the Tontine Hotel may not be the best place to hold such a meeting as numbers of people wanting to attend the workshop could be restricted.  I would also like to see such a crucial meeting like this taking place in other parts of Inverclyde like Port Glasgow." Port Glasgow SNP convener Jim MacLeod, supporting his colleague, added: "It is nonsense that the health board are holding this event at this time.  Is this a deliberate ploy, as it has been in the past, to have a meeting like this when many people are away on holiday?  If the children's ward at IRH is closed this could be another nail in the hospital's coffin as well as having a huge impact on local child care services, especially at a time when the plans to regenerate the area are well under way." He added: "I think the workshop consultation should be postponed at least until sometime next month when many more people will have the chance to attend.  The health board should think again."