A GREENOCK woman who received acupuncture treatment at Inverclyde Royal Hospital says she is angry and disappointed that the service is being cut.

Lesley Roberts was injured at work in 2005 and since the accident she has received numerous treatments to allow her to go about her day-to-day life.

At her last appointment she was informed that the service was being 'redesigned' and that acupuncture would no longer be provided at the Pain Clinic.

Lesley said: “I am angry that they have chosen to cut a service that really works for me and lets me manage my symptoms enough to be able to stay at work and manage some day-to-day life.

“I started receiving acupuncture after I was injured and found it really worked for me.

"I have to go into hospital regularly for injections and the acupuncture was a good way of managing the pain between treatments as well as physio.

“This has been a lifeline and I don’t see why any long-term patients should have to go private just because they are redesigning the service, which doesn’t fit the patients requirements.”

Lesley believes that if she has to seek the treatment privately it will cost her around £30 a session.

MSP Stuart McMillan today acknowledged that the end of the service would be worrying for patients.

Mr McMillan said: “Having written to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde regarding the Pain Management Service at the IRH, I understand that acupuncture has stopped across all sites within the health board area.

“I have been told that the decision to stop offering acupuncture has been carefully considered over the last two years, and withdrawing it from the Pain Management Service will allow for a focus on a more self-supported approach.

"Clinicians within the Pain Service have advocated that acupuncture is no longer an intervention helping patients living with long-term pain conditions.

“It’s clear to me then that this is not a reflection on our local hospital, but in line with the approach taken across Scotland in regards to acupuncture as a treatment option.

“Patients affected by this decision will be offered an independent medical review of their care, where all other treatment options will be discussed and a suitable management plan agreed.

“I appreciate that this action will be worrying for patients at the sharp-end of this change, but I trust that the decision is best for patients with chronic pain conditions.”

Bosses at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde confirmed the decision.

A spokesperson said: “The senior clinical team within our Pain Management Service continuously review the types of treatments that are offered to patients.

"This ongoing review is essential in order to ensure that what is offered is appropriate and consistent with current best practice.

“As part of this review process, the Pain Management Service has decided that it will no longer offer acupuncture.

"This decision is not particular to Inverclyde Royal Hospital and has been rolled out across the board area.

“All patients who are affected by this will be offered an independent medical review of their care where all the other treatment options offered by the Pain Management Service will be discussed with them and a suitable management plan agreed.”