MEMBERS of a group set up to advise a health board on changes to vital services have quit in protest at the decision to pursue cuts and close a ward.
In a mass resignation, 11 lay members of the Vale of Leven Monitoring Group have stepped down because they feel they have “little scope” to influence decisions made by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC).
They said the health board had “totally disregarded” their input on the future of the Vale of Leven Hospital in West Dunbartonshire and the proposal to close the Christie acute mental health ward was the final straw.
The monitoring group has been all but stripped of input from outside the medical profession, with the majority of the board’s lay membership – made up of local councillors and community representatives – now absent.
The body had been set up to advise on NHSGGC’s Vision for the Vale reorganisation strategy, which is currently seeking ways to modernise health services at the hospital.
A number of changes, such as the transfer of some emergency services to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley and the reduction of maternity services, have already taken place. Those who resigned said a proposal to close the Christie ward is being forced through.
Former member David Bruce, of the Helensburgh and Lomond Patients Group, said: “The board’s proposed closure of the Christie ward has been the line in the sand for the lay members.
“Even before our input was considered, and a majority of the monitoring group had submitted a resolution to that effect, the board had made up its mind on what the preferred option was.
“We are ordinary volunteers who have given up our free time to participate in a process we thought would be valuable and progressive; unfortunately it would appear the board does not share that interpretation.”
He added: “There is a key principle at stake here – if lay members are invited to become involved in health service matters, they must be certain their participation is meaningful and their contributions effective. Otherwise, they will simply not wish to take part.”
The hospital serves a population of 78,000, including the towns of Helensburgh and Dumbarton on the River Clyde. Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon announced the Vision for the Vale reorganisation in 2009, saying she expected the monitoring group to “play a full part” in the process.
The hospital was at the centre of a scandal in 2008 when an outbreak of the bacteria Clostridium Difficile was linked to the deaths of 18 people.
Last night, Jackie Baille, the Labour MSP for Dumbarton who has also resigned from the monitoring group, said the lay members had made the right decision to walk away.
She said: “I know they have worked tirelessly to challenge the health board at every turn and to protect services at the Vale. It is, however, becoming more and more apparent that the health board has little regard for the views expressed by the lay members.”
A spokeswoman for NHSGGC said that it was disappointed by the group’s decision.
She added: “We have delivered on the significant investment and expansion of community-based mental health support in the area and to cite this as a reason for resignation from the monitoring group is somewhat misplaced.
“It is also a little sad this has happened just as we have secured local council planning approval to build the brand new showpiece Alexandria Health Centre.”
A spokesman for Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: “No decisions have yet been taken about longer term service provision. The health board intends to consider the issues at its meeting on October 18. Any decision taken by the board will then come to the Cabinet Secretary for a final decision.”
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