THE controversial decision to send intensive care patients from Inverclyde to Glasgow will be put under the spotlight in the Scottish Parliament tomorrow.

Greenock-born MSP Jamie Greene has secured a Holyrood debate on the hospital's ICU provision and the changes which have been made by health board bosses.

There was outrage in the community after the Tele recently revealed how the sickest patients were no longer being cared for at our local hospital under alterations made by NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde.

Instead they are being taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in the city and only return to IRH once they no longer need critical care.

Staff were told with one day's notice while the local health and social care partnership says it was not consulted at all, following public claims to the contrary by top NHS GGC officials.

Council leader Stephen McCabe branded the board's handling of the affair as 'appalling' while over 10,000 people have signed a petition in protest.

A cross party group of around 20 local politicians has also been formed to fight against changes and downgrades to services at IRH.

They are concerned that the loss of any service simply paves the way for more to follow and say that IRH could eventually be little more than 'a cottage hospital'.

Conservative MSP Mr Greene has been urging board bosses to reconsider the ICU change and has raised it with Nicola Sturgeon during First Minister’s questions.

Mr Greene said: “I am pleased to have achieved sufficient opposition support to finally air concerns about the intensive care unit provision at Inverclyde Royal Hospital in the Scottish Parliament and properly debate the matter with government ministers.

“Whilst the situation at Inverclyde has evolved since my original motion, it is clear that many people have valid concerns about the gradual chipping away of frontline services.

“Inverclyde Royal should be front and centre of our efforts to look after those who need help during and after the Covid-19 crisis and I will make that case to ministers.

“Changes in the provision of intensive care services in the Inverclyde Royal have been a cause for concern to staff and locals for some time, as highlighted by the Greenock Telegraph.

“I hope MSPs who take part in this debate are not afraid to challenge the government and are willing to stand up for the local community - which relies on these vital and critical health services.”

The health board has stressed that the critical care team and ICU beds remain at IRH and says that most patients will continue to be treated locally.

They have pledged to 'closely monitor' the changes they have made and keep the situation under review.

In a public briefing in response to the widespread concern about the unit, they said: "We are proposing to build on a patient pathway that was used for certain patients during the Covid-19 pandemic and transfer those who need intensive care support to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

"The ICU beds in the hospital remain open.

"The staff remain in place, with increased senior medical staffing at the weekends.

"All critical care patients will continue to first be assessed and managed at IRH by the relevant clinical team."

The health board insists that it is fully committed to Inverclyde Royal and its long term future, saying it will 'continue to play an important part in the delivery of healthcare in Greater Glasgow and Clyde'.