INVERCLYDE people were urged today come out in support of Inverclyde Royal’s birthing unit and the children’s ward at Paisley’s Royal Alexandra Hospital.

Former Provost Ciano Rebecchi, a veteran campaigner against hospital cuts, made the rallying call as NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde fired the starting gun on consultations over the future of both services.

The health board want to stop women giving birth at IRH and go instead to Paisley or Glasgow.

And sick Inverclyde kids would have to go to Glasgow instead of Paisley if the RAH paediatric inpatient services are transferred to the city’s Royal Hospital for Sick Children.

Cllr Rebecchi says it is vital that people make their views known to the board.
He told the Tele: “Lives could be at risk if longer ambulance journeys have to be made, and the health board don’t seem to be bothered about the inconvenience to patients and their relatives.

“They should remember that not everyone has access to a car to get to Paisley or Glasgow, or may not be able to afford the petrol or the bus fare. You can’t underestimate the importance of visitors going to see patients to cheer them up and help with their recovery.

“We all have to work together for the benefit of the hospitals, and we should also bear in mind that people from Largs, Rothesay and Dunoon also use IRH and will be affected.”

The health board say that responses from the public must be received by the end of November. Margaret McGuire, nursing director, said: “Women would have a choice of midwife-led birthing services at either the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Princess Royal Maternity Hospital or Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, or the option to have a home birth.

“I would especially encourage women who have used or may use the community maternity unit, and the local community, to share their views on what the board is proposing.

“A dedicated patient experience public involvement manager is working together with the stakeholder reference group which was set up to agree on the best ways to engage with those affected and the local communities between now and November.”

The board say there will be no further consultation after November because ‘there is already a previous history of extensive engagement, since 2007’ but there may be ‘full public consultation’ after November on the children’s ward.

More information is available at www.nhsggc.org.uk while comments can be emailed to Public.Involvement@ggc.scot.nhs.uk