HEALTH board bosses today reaffirmed their commitment to Inverclyde Royal and slammed concerns about the future of services.

The chairman of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde spoke out following warnings from unions and Labour politicians about centralisation and the impact it will have.

Union representatives say that staff morale has been badly hit by years of austerity, cuts and questions over the future of key local services like A&E.

But the chairman of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, John Brown, pictured above, today dismissed the concerns.

A statement from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde also said it was ‘fully committed to ensuring that the people in Inverclyde receive the best in modern healthcare’.

The health board added that IRH will play an integral role in the delivery of its long term strategy for the future of health and social care, which was approved last month.

Mr Brown told the Telegraph: “The board has already confirmed its commitment to Inverclyde Royal Hospital. Suggestions that it is under threat only serve to undermine the hospital, its staff and services and harm staff morale.

“I therefore want to reassure our staff, our patients and the public that the hospital is not closing. 

“Inverclyde Royal Hospital has a long term future and will continue to play an important part in the delivery of healthcare in Greater Glasgow and Clyde.”

The board boss highlighted spending on services over the last five years, saying almost £20m has gone into Inverclyde Royal, which includes the creation of Orchard View, the new Inverclyde Adult and Older People’s Continuing Care Hospital next to IRH.