Artist praises hospital"s care for wife RENOWNED Gourock artist George Wyllie has slammed the decision to close Ravenscraig Hospital and downgrade Inverclyde Royal.

George (82), whose wife Daphne is being cared for at Ravenscraig, said: `It's all about debt- there's a fantastic amount of debt. It's seems crazy that the people who got us into trouble are being asked to solve the problem.` Although not disputing the strength of public feeling he describes protests as `predictable.` He added: `The real protest is to question the health board's compassion, intelligence and integrity which contrasts with the compassionate way staff treat patients at Ravenscraig.` His wife Daphne has been in hospital for three years following a massive stroke and now needs 24-hour care.

The couple have been married for 60 years and have two daughters Louise and Elaine and three grandchildren.

George visits her every day and has nothing but praise for staff.

`Staff are first class. Daphne gets excellent treatment and the nurses are wonderful. There's a lot of good charity work going and they put things on for patients.` He said: 'Daphne was very active before the stroke. She could stand on her head, swim - she could do anything. It just shows it can happen to anyone at anytime.` George's concerns are not only for his wife but other families who have gravely ill relatives at the unit.

`If my wife was able to come home she would need round-the-clock nurses here. An alternative to what happens to patients has never been discussed.` The artist, who agrees that the pre-fab building needs refurbished or knocked down, said: `Once they've knocked it down - what are they going to do with the land? It's about developers making money I wouldn't be the least surprised. The developers should build a new hospital.` George added: `I do miss Daphne but we've been married for 60 years and I can still see her every day. That wouldn't happen if she was in Paisley.` POLITICIANS have given a cautious welcome to the reprieve for Inverclyde Royal Hospital.

Greenock and Inverclyde MP David Cairns said today: `This decision does not give us everything we want, but it is a big step in the right direction so we must continue to keep the pressure on.` He added: `While I have reservations about the decision to close Ravenscraig, I am pleased by the assurances that have now been given that this will not happen until alternative provision has been put in place.` Greenock and Inverclyde MSP Duncan McNeil said: `The board have come a long way, but they have a long way to go.

`They have really got to convince us they have listened to the concerns of our community and local professionals and the only way they can do that is by working closely, honestly and consistently with us to develop acceptable services.` He added: `We have knocked down the board's arguments and sent them home to think again.` Port Glasgow MP Jim Sheridan said: `I am very pleased the health board have listened to the people of Inverclyde `I remain concerned about the plans to close Ravenscraig and will be working with my Parliamentary colleagues and my colleagues in the Scottish Parliament to ensure that the vulnerable persons currently in Ravenscraig are provided with the care they need.` West of Scotland Liberal Democrat MSP, Ross Finnie said: `I remain concerned about the proposal to close Ravenscraig which appears to have been taken without having a clear picture of the capacity that will be required within the community to look after these patients properly.

`It is all the more important given that it appears the major part of the burden will fall to the local authority, who do not appear to have been adequately consulted.` He added: `My reading of the IRH proposals is that they have been only suspended. We must continue to try and get a solution that provides a real role for IRH.` Scottish National Party MSP Bruce McFee said the board had executed a tactical retreat over IRH and had put off a decision until after next year's general election.

He added: `The decision to close Ravenscraig had more to do with balancing the books and the need to sell the site than any indication that there will be enough places in the community in the near future.` Tory MSP Annabel Goldie said the closure of Ravenscraig was 'extremely disappointing`.

She added: `The continuing uncertainty for Inverclyde Royal is deeply disturbing.`"