Report to the People
2nd August 2004
Rallying Cries Must Not Ring Hollow
Saturday’s
march and rally in support of Inverclyde Royal Hospital and against the Health
Board’s plans for its downgrading was an ideal opportunity for our community to
turn up the heat on the health bosses. I
hope the message it sent was clear – we are not going to lie down and let them
foist this ill-conceived plan upon us.
As
I said before addressing the rally, this is not just an issue for me as an MSP
– it’s personal. The IRH
isn’t just in my constituency, it’s in my community.
It is my hospital and my family’s hospital.
But
just because I get emotional about the prospect of its loss, doesn’t mean that
this is nothing more than an emotional argument.
A look at the cold, hard facts shows that the Health Board’s Clinical
Strategy is deeply flawed.
For
a start, Paisley’s Royal Alexandra Hospital will not be able to cope with the
increased number of patients. This
will lead, as sure as night follows day, to poorer treatment and longer waiting
times. Secondly, there is no evidence that centralising services
(other than for cancer), actually provides safer treatment. Neither is there any evidence from comparable areas that the
proposed model of intermediate care will work.
It
is heartening to see that not just the community, but trade unions; the council;
and politicians from every part of the Argyll and Clyde area and the political
spectrum recognise these points and agree that the plan must be re-visited.
What
is a bit disappointing, though, is that more doctors have not, as yet, joined
their colleagues, J.J. Morrice and Mustafa Kapasi, in speaking out against the
Clinical Strategy.
Mr
Morrice, a senior consultant surgeon and Clinical Director of Surgery at the IRH
and Dr Kapasi, a leading GP and Chair of the Local Health Care Co-operative,
have both publicly stated that they are ready to play their part.
But the silence from their colleagues has been deafening.
I’m
not sure how to take this. Does
this mean they support the Health Board’s plans?
If so, why? What are the
arguments in favour? And, more
importantly, why are they refusing to put them forward?
I
therefore hope that more of our local doctors, who I presume have our interests
at heart, can be convinced to come on board.
Their voices will be very influential in this process.
Without them, our cries of protest will be diminished.
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