Published: Friday, 16th May, 2008 16:30
Hands off our health service
By Russell Steele
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SERVICE SWITCH: Health board plans would see birthing services at the IRH removed.
INVERCLYDE Council is to demand a pledge from health chiefs that they are not stripping away the area’s medical services.
Councillors fear a ‘subtle erosion’ could be taking place — and the authority will ask for reassurances from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde over its concerns.
The unprecedented call is included in a draft response drawn up for a consultation on the future of maternity services at Inverclyde Royal Hospital.
The hard-hitting document states: “Inverclyde Council is particularly concerned by what is perceived to be subtle erosion of health services within Inverclyde.
“The council, and the public in Inverclyde, need reassurances this is not in fact happening by either design or by accident.”
In the paper — which councillors will be asked to endorse on 12 June — council chiefs also urge the health board to ditch their plans to axe the birthing suite at IRH.
It states: “The council would suggest that rather than withdrawing the birthing service from Inverclyde Royal Hospital, there is an option for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to rebuild and regenerate the service.
“The council rejects the move for a single birthing unit in Paisley to the detriment of the population and area of Inverclyde.”
Councillors have held focus groups to canvass opinion about the board’s plan to switch all deliveries to Paisley’s Royal Alexandra Hospital, meaning no more babies would be born in Inverclyde.
And Councillor Joe McIlwee, pictured below, convener of the health and social care committee, said people he met expressed concern that services are being dismantled in stages.
He told the Tele: “That’s the worry out on the streets — that things are going, bit-by-bit. When you meet with pregnant mums, their view is they want to give birth locally and as safely as possible.”
The council’s explosive consultation response also accuses the health board of not answering questions about why so few mums currently use the community maternity unit at IRH — saying it has deliberately chosen to accept the low uptake, rather than try to reverse the trend.
The board recently overlooked the advice of a panel of independent experts who said the unit should stay open for a further three years alongside a community education programme promoting it.
Councillor McIlwee added: “IRH has a lot to offer. It should have a chance to prove itself. We need the board to spell out the long-term plans for Inverclyde Royal.
“I’d like to see them put the same gusto into it as they have done elsewhere. They need to work out how we can sustain a birthing unit here. I urge everyone to make sure their voices are heard before the consultation finishes on 19 June.”
You can email your comments on the maternity plans to clydematernity@nhsggc.org.uk
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