AN action group is being formed to monitor an NHS committee amid claims it was set up in secret to review services at Oban’s only hospital.
More than 500 people attended a meeting organised by Oban Community Council to quiz senior NHS staff over the future of Lorn and Islands Hospital.
Doctors told the meeting that problems with recruitment of senior medical staff meant plans for sustaining services in the future must be made now.
The audience also heard that health services in Argyll and Bute are facing a funding gap of between £22 million and £24m in the next two years.
NHS representatives went on to promise that 24/7 emergency care would remain at the tourist town’s only hospital and, while some services may be moved away from Oban, new services may also start.
However, critics claimed the review group had been formed – and membership decided – behind the community’s back.
Marri Malloy, chair of Oban Community Council, said: “Nobody knew about this review group, it’s all been hidden.
“It’s like the secret service, they were keeping it to themselves, they did not want the public to know.
“We have to form an action group because all we got at the meeting was platitude. I just felt they were evasive.
“Now it’s out in the open, they will have to be careful. We will be watching them.”
Christina West, chief officer from the Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership, issued an apology and admitted the review should have been made public at an earlier stage.
She added: “There is an absolute commitment that no decisions will be made without engagement with the community.”
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