Press Release
20th December 2002
First Minister Pledges to
Support Argyll and Clyde NHS Reform
The Scottish Executive will
continue to support the action needed to turn NHS Argyll and
Clyde around, First Minister, Jack McConnell, has told the
Scottish Parliament.
"We will ensure that the patients in Argyll and Clyde come first," he told the Chamber during First Minister’s Question Time yesterday (19th December).
Mr McConnell was responding to a question from MSP for Greenock & Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, who had asked about the steps the Executive will take to help the Board build on the findings of the recent Support Team report into its effectiveness.
The First Minister assured Mr McNeil that the Executive had played, and would continue to play, its part, saying:
"We have assisted the board in making key personnel changes and in bringing in its new interim management team. I congratulate Malcolm Chisholm on his key role in ensuring that the patients of Argyll and Clyde are properly looked after. We will continue to provide support as the board moves forward to address the issues that face it for the benefit of patients, the public and NHS staff."
Mr McNeil then sought assurances that the problems in NHS Argyll and Clyde would not be allowed to damage patient care, asking:
"I welcome the First Minister's reassurance that the Executive will support the swift and decisive action that is necessary. Does he agree that, despite our problems in Argyll and Clyde, we have a considerable strength in our committed medical and ancillary staff, who have continued to deliver under difficult circumstances? Will he confirm that appropriate support will be available to ensure that the current financial difficulties are not allowed to affect patient services in areas such as Greenock and Inverclyde, which already have a poor health record?"
The First Minister replied that patients would indeed come first, saying:
"I can certainly confirm that our fundamental approach will be to put the patients of Argyll and Clyde first. That has been the key motivating factor behind the actions that have been taken locally and nationally over recent weeks. It is vital that services in Argyll and Clyde rise up to the proper level and that the funding of Argyll and Clyde NHS Board does not get into the sort of chaotic state that could damage those services in the longer term. We will ensure that the patients in Argyll and Clyde come first. We recognise as a key part of that that the NHS staff in Argyll and Clyde have been going through a period of uncertainty recently and that they, too, need the stability that improved management can provide. We will support Argyll and Clyde in seeking to achieve that objective."
Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie, whose constituency includes the Vale of Leven Hospital, also quizzed Mr McConnell.
"I welcome Malcolm Chisholm's decisive action in Argyll and Clyde," she said. "What is the time scale for establishing a single NHS system in Argyll and Clyde? What involvement will stakeholders have in shaping the future of the service?"
The First Minister replied:
"We expect proposals for a single
unified system in Argyll and Clyde within six months. The
proposals will be an important move towards a better and more
efficient management structure in the Argyll and Clyde area. A
unified system might be the right option for that area, but it is
important that such a unified structure devolves authority and
managerial responsibility to hospitals, general practices and
others who run the front-line services. That would not be a
centralising method of running the health service. I welcome
Jackie Baillie's support for the tough action that has been taken
to look after the patients whom she represents — I wish that
Duncan Hamilton had been as positive on behalf of the SNP."
ENDS
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