PRESS RELEASE

October 22nd, 2008

From the office of DUNCAN MCNEIL, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde

Praise for outgoing health boss

Greenock and Inverclyde MSP Duncan McNeil has saluted the chief executive of Greater Glasgow Health Board after he announced he is to step down.

Mr McNeil met frequently with Tom Divers as he battled to save Inverclyde Royal’s accident and emergency department.

The MSP admitted Mr Divers oversaw a difficult time for local health provision and paid tribute to his handling of the job.

He said: “We have had our fair share of challenges in the health service over the last few years but we must remember that it was under Tom Divers’s leadership that we reversed the decision to close Inverclyde Royal’s accident and emergency department.

“My first meeting with him was on this issue and he told me back then that he viewed the plans to close the A and E as flawed. Tom Divers stuck by that commitment and we still have a hospital worthy of the name as a result.

“He quietly lobbied for greater funds to deal with the disproportionate health problems we face in the west of Scotland, with drugs, deprivation and mental health issues.

“So I am sure he will leave with some regret knowing that these efforts were continually thwarted, not least with the £42 million worth of cuts ordered by the Scottish Government back in August.

“There will always be tensions as we fight for what we see as our fair share and I am sure there is a degree of frustration on his part that he wasn’t able to do more to deal with the significant health problems in this area.”

ENDS