CAMPAIGNERS fighting hospital cuts have warned that a move towards greater community-based care will threaten the future of Inverclyde Royal. 

Concerns have been raised by members of Inverclyde Joint Integration Board, who are alarmed at the potential conflict and fear that patient care will be compromised.

Health and social care bosses are looking at ways to switch resources from the hospital to social care, with campaigners keen to secure the future of IRH.

One of them, Councillor Ciano Rebecchi, said: “This is something we are all worried about.

“I am also deeply concerned that they are going to push more people out into the community.

“It is all very well saying that there are nurses and carers going into people’s homes, but what if they need someone at other times of the day and there is no one there?

“Sometimes people need to be in hospital, where there are nurses and doctors on hand to look after them.”

Councillor Rebecchi and others raised their concerns at a recent health services meeting.

Members argued that, to allow for staff and money to be released to community services, there would need to be a reduction in patients in hospital and a clear programme of bed closures.

Inverclyde’s director of health and social care Brian Moore added: “This carries a risk to the future viability of the local hospital, so a clear strategic approach is required so that communities can be part of a process that redefines how and for what purpose the local hospital should be used, going into the future.

“The health inequalities that are evident in Inverclyde underscore the need for transformational change that delivers improved outcomes for local people.”