THE health secretary is today facing renewed pressure to address concerns from frontline staff following the intensive care axe at Inverclyde Royal.

Following a meeting with Councillor Chris McEleny, Jeane Freeman stated that the health board had satisfied her with their response, claiming that the ICU is 'open'.

But in a blunt response the former leader of the council's SNP group has again challenged the board and directed a series of questions to be answered.

He is also planning to set up a meeting with the trade unions and frontline staff to take on NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde chiefs.

In his letter to the minister Cllr McEleny says: "The response the health board has provided to you still leaves me with serious concerns.

"I have discussed the response the board provided to you with local nursing staff and it is clear that there continues to be a disconnect between what the board inform you and what the staff on the frontline inform me.

"I shall be seeking to set up a meeting with the nursing staff and trade unions to further explore the concerns they have that result in me not having confidence in the response provided by the board."

In the forceful letter Mr McEleny sets out the issues around the intensive care unit.

He said: “In the response the health board say the Level 3 ICU beds at IRH will remain open and patients from Inverclyde will continue to be admitted to the beds, assessed and stabilised.

"The board then go on to contradict this statement by saying 'as noted above, local ICU staff will manage and stabilise these patients and support their transfer to the QEUH; and once patients improve and no longer need Level 3 support, they will be assessed for transfer back to the IRH for continued recovery and rehabilitation'.”

He added: "As a matter of urgency I would request that the board provide responses to you...in order that we can all ensure that the health board deliver at the IRH upon the expectations of the Scottish Government and the people of Inverclyde."

The board have said that the decision to change the set-up was taken as an operational response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

They said that high dependency and coronary care were unaffected but confirmed that patients in need of invasive ventilation would need to be transferred to Glasgow.

Mr McEleny has posed a series of questions in his letter to Ms Freeman about the new arrangements.

He said: "I am sure you will agree with me that in the interests of transparency and to properly allay concerns in my community, and put the safety of the intensive care unit at the IRH beyond doubt, the health board should welcome the opportunity to comprehensively answer the questions urgently."