NURSES at Inverclyde Royal have been told the hospital will be only a large health centre in two years' time.

Meetings have been held over the past few days with staff on a number of wards at the Greenock hospital.

One nurse, who was at one of the meetings and did not want to be named, told the Telegraph: `We were told there won't be a single in-patient at the hospital within two years.

'We were told staff would either transfer to the Southern General in Glasgow or the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley or remain in Inverclyde, which would just be a large clinic or drop-in health centre.` Two options were put out to public consultation last week after a health board meeting.

And Councillor Tom Fyfe, one of Inverclyde's representatives on the health board, has warned that whatever is decided in October, the following services will be lost at Inverclyde Royal within two to three years: The full-time casualty department The intensive care unit Acute medical and surgical wards The orthopaedic department Willie Duffy, regional officer for Unison, confirmed a series of meetings had been held with staff at the hospital to outline the board's proposals to them.

`There are two options but whatever option they go for, patients with anything serious will have to go to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley. The IRH will be able to treat only really minor problems, like an in-growing toe-nail.` And he warned: `This will rip the heart out of the community. A community like Inverclyde should have a hospital where people can be treated locally.` A spokeswoman for NHS Argyll and Clyde said no decisions had yet been made over the hospital's future and as part of the consultation process GPs, consultants and members of the public would be asked what type of treatment should be available at the IRH.

Life savers CASE STUDY HUNDREDS of people owe their lives to the staff at IRH.

On Friday Margaret Stevenson told how her daughter Margaret Anne would have died but for doctors in Greenock.

And today LORRAINE TINNEY speaks to Tommy Rodgers, whose wife Helen underwent life-saving surgery thanks to quick diagnosis at IRH.

LOVING husband Tommy Rodger dreads to think what would have happened to his wife without Inverclyde Royal Hospital.

Helen (54) from Port Glasgow was diagnosed with a brain tumour at the hospital last year and was rushed to Southern General Hospital in Glasgow where she underwent two operations.

The grandmother was referred by her GP and admitted to hospital the same day.

Tommy: `Helen got a bed straight away and she got excellent treatment at Inverclyde Royal.

'I daren't think what would have happened to her, particularly if she had to wait three or four days for a bed. It was a life- threatening situation.` Patients face losing a 24-hour casualty department, intensive care unit, acute medical and surgical wards and orthopedic department and will have to go to Paisley for treatment.

Tommy hit out at health board bosses, saying losing such essential services `is a blow to everyone in the community`.

He said it would also impact on carers and families. 'We had cars to get to the Southern General. But what about low-income families who don't have cars to get to Paisley? `If people get out of their houses and on to the streets, to mass meetings and demonstrations, surely we can bring the health board to its knees.` Fight the cuts: what you"re telling the Tele Kellie Anne McGregor, Greenock: I was very pleased to read about the Tele's efforts to try to campaign against the cuts at IRH. These are people"s lives the NHS is tearing at strip by strip, they seem determined to tear this community apart.

I fully back your campaign, the people in this area cannot allow this to happen! I'll have my poster in my window.

Robert Marshall: WE have a young daughter with severe allergies. We have already been inconvenienced by the overnight closure of IRH paediatric ward - taking a sick child up to Paisley was no fun, neither were the logistics of visiting her. Forcing A&E cases to make the same journey is an apalling prospect: lives will be lost.

Elizabeth Harkins, Inverkip: AS a Scottish Labour supporter I now intend to tear my voting card up and send it to the Scottish health minister.

May I suggest through your paper that all Labour supporters do the same until this matter is resolved for the people of Inverclyde.

William Murray: I'M appalled at the proposals to further emasculate services at Inverclyde Royal Hospital. Why can't these cuts be done to RAH Paisley?

Now is the time for the citizens of Inverclyde and the surrounding area to stand together and fight these cuts.

Robert Russell, Greenock: HERE we go again, tick tock, the clock is once again ticking for the IRH, its staff, its patients and the people of Inverclyde.

I have recently had frequent contact with the IRH and its services under a variety of circumstances and the current threat of service withdrawal, undoubtedly as a prelude to permanent closure, has left me distressed to say the least.

The talk of moving accident and emergency services to an area 40 minutes away seems ludicrous. I'm sure they can explain that they have sound financial reasons for doings so and perhaps they have but what price a life?

People will die if downgrade goes ahead, warns MSP MSP Frances Curran, who was in Greenock town centre to "Fight the Cuts" at Inverclyde Royal, has claimed people will die as a result of the proposed downgrading of the hospital.

'More than 16,000 people used Inverclyde Royal last year,' she said.

'They will all have to be transferred to Paisley, and then on to Glasgow when Paisley is overflowing.

'There will be people dying on the motorway.' Ms Curran, who was on the campaign trail with Save the Rankin campaigner Liz Roders, said this week"s European election would give people an opportunity to vote against the cuts.

'The election will be a referendum on the Iraq war for most of the country, but for Greenock and Inverclyde it will also be a referendum on Labour"s record on the health service.' DID THE IRH SAVE YOUR LIFE? CALL US ON 558807