SERIOUS questions were raised about the future of Inverclyde Royal at a meeting with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde's medical director in Greenock.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (GGC) recently revealed proposals for a huge shake-up of health and social care which have sparked concerns.

The Moving Forward Together strategy sets out a vision for the future delivery of healthcare but much of the detail remains a mystery.

Dr Jennifer Armstrong, who is the medical director at NHS GGC, defended the strategy under questioning at a meeting of the Inverclyde Integration Joint Board.

She stressed that nothing is set in stone and that they will consult thoroughly with the community to ensure that everyone receives the best possible quality of care.

But Labour Councillor Jim Clocherty, an Integration Joint Board member who also represents the district on NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, told her the people of Inverclyde should not be left in the dark.

He said: "We have got to ask what does this mean for Inverclyde, what does this mean for the IRH?

"What we can’t have is a sort of 'it will be alright on the night' approach.”

The Moving Forward Together strategy was developed by the NHS following what they have described as 'extensive engagement with public and service user representatives'.

Details of what is planned for the IRH as part of the new proposed strategy remain unclear.

Last month, the Tele revealed proposals to move breast cancer service assessment, treatment and diagnosis from IRH to Paisley.

Mr Clocherty said: “What are we getting in Inverclyde?

"What is left?

"Will we still have an A&E or do we have an A&E for minor injuries like sprains and cuts?

"That is my fear - I want to see the bigger picture.

"What I don't want to do is take a stab in the dark and say 'these clinicians are very clever people, I will trust the clinicians'."

Dr Armstrong assured Cllr Clocherty that they will involve the community before any decisions are taken.

She said: "We have to 'colour in' the picture for everybody.

"This is not about things coming out of Inverclyde.

"This is about improving the quality of care, it’s about improving people’s ability to maintain their own care.

“It’s about improving the ability to access care locally and to make sure that patients who are critically ill are not delayed.

“If at the end of it you come up with a local model which makes sense to the clinicians, patients and the public then that would be fantastic.

"We have got to make sure that all the patients are as cared for as well as you are if you live next door to the Queen Elizabeth.

"At the moment I'm not sure we can say that.

"People must have access to the same level of care."

Independent councillor Lynne Quinn, who is also a board member, also raised concerns about the new health vision.

She said: "It's not really Moving Forward Together, we feel as a community that we are being left behind and that things are moving at a fast pace.

"I'm not fully understanding what it will look like.

"I absolutely agree that if you're in a road traffic accident that you want to go to the best centre for the best care, I'm happy with that.

"But what happens afterwards when you're recovering?

"If you're spending three months in hospital in Glasgow, how is my family going to come and visit me?

"What does the aftercare look like, is that local?

"There are lots of questions."

Board member Christina Boyd also raised concerns about the plans and called for an extensive public consultation.

She said: "What has happened in the past 10 to 15 years is that one service after the other has left the IRH and gone up the M8 and frankly they haven't come back.

"If we did have something coming back that would be great.

"We have to be a centre of excellence for something."

Dr Armstrong agreed that a more detailed vision for the future of the IRH should be outlined.

She said: "I think that we probably need to paint out what Inverclyde will look like in five years time and we need to do that based on the needs of the population of Inverclyde."

Lib Dem Councillor Ciano Rebecchi also called for more transparency.

He said "If we are working together then we should know what is happening in the hospital."