FEARS have been raised about the future of a vital service for children with hearing difficulties.

Councillor Tommy McVey says he is ‘very concerned’ about the paediatric audiology service at Inverclyde Royal Hospital.

Health bosses admit that there has been a change in the management of the service.

It will now be overseen at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow, with NHS chiefs adamant this will have no impact on the care received by local children.

But local councillor Mr McVey says parents are already encountering problems as a result of the changes.

He said: “It is my understanding that they are not taking any more appointments for children at audiology at the IRH after April 1.

“I’m very concerned.

“They keep telling us that the IRH is safe and then they keep reducing the service.

“This appears to be another step on the road to downgrading this service at the IRH.

“It follows a pattern that we have been seeing over the past three to four years where they have been chipping away at services.

“There’s definitely something going on.”

Greenock mum Maria Reay says she is worried about the service which her seven-year-old son Rylee relies on.

He suffers from a condition called glue ear which can cause temporary hearing loss. 

Maria says that she only found out about the management change when she struggled to get an appointment for her son.

She said: “Rylee was due to be seen at the audiology department in February but I never received an appointment for him, which was strange.

“When I phoned up the girl told me that they are not allowed to make appointments for paediatrics after April 1st.

“I was then told that two girls will now be coming down from Glasgow to do appointments on a Monday.

“If there are not any changes to the service, why am I now suddenly struggling to get an appointment for my son?

“There’s definitely something going on.

“Hundreds of children across Inverclyde rely on this service, especially children at the Garvel Deaf Centre, Hillend Children’s Centre and Craigmarloch School.”

The Tele contacted NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and asked them to respond to the points made by both Rylee’s mum and Cllr McVey.

They insisted there will be no changes to the way the service is delivered at the IRH.

A statement from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde says: “We want to reassure parents in Inverclyde that there are no plans to withdraw or transfer any local audiology service for children at Inverclyde Royal Hospital.

“We are sorry if this there was any angst caused to this parent but it is the management of the service that is changing. 

“There will still be a dedicated local service for the children of Inverclyde.”