PRESS RELEASE
April 24th, 2009

Hope for hospital tea bar

Greenock and Inverclyde MSP Duncan McNeil believes there is real hope of saving the Inverclyde League of Friends after he called on the Scottish Government to intervene.

The MSP was able to put the charity's case to Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon in the Scottish Parliament this week.

And Ms Sturgeon assured him that no decision had been made on replacing the tea bar with an Aroma Café.

Mr McNeil will now meet with the League of Friends to update them on developments.

He said: “We had been led to believe up until now that this was a done deal so I am delighted that Nicola Sturgeon was able to assure me that a final decision has not yet been made.

“Either there has been a lack of communication between the Scottish Government and the health board or the local campaign has forced them to roll back their position.

“Hopefully now they will see sense and allow the League of Friends to continue their good work for the hospital and the wider community for a very long time to come.

“They are also due a message of gratitude for their efforts and an apology for the shabby way they have been treated in the last few weeks.”

ENDS