CAMPAIGNERS trying to prevent the closure of three hospitals in
Grampian are preparing to occupy the health board's headquarters.
Grampian Senior Citizens Forum, the Friends of Woodlands (one of the
threatened hospitals), and health workers who are members of Unison,
have joined forces to oppose the plans by Grampian Healthcare to close
Kingseat, Woodlands, and Arduthie at Stonehaven.
The closures are part of a three-year business plan by Grampian
Healthcare, Scotland's largest NHS Trust, which includes shedding 700
jobs.
Grampian Health Board has given broad support to the proposals, but
its chairman, Dr Calum MacLeod, has said it would not support any
hospital closures until it was sure that better alternative
accommodation and services were to be made available for local
residents.
The board has said it recognises the reasons for transferring the
services at Woodlands to the Royal Cornhill site, and it also supports
the proposal to close Kingseat Hospital as part of its long-standing
plan to concentrate specialist mental health services in improved
accommodation in Aberdeen and Elgin.
However, at the next meeting of the board on September 8, it can
expect a fiery time from opponents of the closures.
They are to march to the meeting to lobby members and have sent a
letter to the board's general manager, Mr Frank Hartnett, demanding that
a delegation from the march be given permission to address the meeting
to state its concerns and put its questions.
''The decision to now go on the offensive and directly confront
Grampian Health Board and Grampian Healthcare has been taken after
concern and anger were expressed by parents of children at Woodlands,
and by campaigners, at the inadequate and contradictory answers given to
questions raised in letters and at meetings with Grampian Healthcare's
chief executive, Mr Jeremy Taylor,'' a spokesman for the group said.
''On September 8 we will refuse to leave Grampian Health Board
headquarters until we receive proper answers to our questions and
concerns.''
Mr Mike Melvin, a Unison branch officer, said his union was opposed to
job losses and bed cuts in general, but there were specific reasons why
these individual hospitals should not close.
He said that moving youngsters from Woodlands, which is in a rural
setting on the outskirts of Aberdeen, to Cornhill in the city centre
would be detrimental. ''It is a case of moving patients from a suitable
to an unsuitable environment. This could set the care of these children
back years.''
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