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Sturgeon to announce A&E decision Sturgeon to announce A&E decision
(about 3 hours later)
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon is set to announce that decisions to centralise hospital services in Scotland will be reversed.Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon is set to announce that decisions to centralise hospital services in Scotland will be reversed.
It is thought she will tell parliament that accident and emergency services in Lanarkshire and Ayrshire will be saved.It is thought she will tell parliament that accident and emergency services in Lanarkshire and Ayrshire will be saved.
The previous Scottish government had endorsed plans to close A&E units at Ayr and Monklands hospitals.The previous Scottish government had endorsed plans to close A&E units at Ayr and Monklands hospitals.
They were part of reforms for a network of local community hospitals and centralised specialist services.They were part of reforms for a network of local community hospitals and centralised specialist services.
Ms Sturgeon's statement to MSPs on Wednesday will come after the man who delivered that blueprint said he was resigning as an adviser to the Scottish Executive. Ms Sturgeon's statement to MSPs will come after the man who delivered the blueprint said he was resigning as an adviser to the Scottish Executive.
Professor David Kerr, a cancer specialist, said he was "disappointed" that the SNP government planned to reverse the decisions. Board pressure
Health board pressure Professor David Kerr, the author of the report setting out the long-term vision for the NHS in Scotland, said he was "disappointed" that the SNP government planned to reverse the decisions.
That course of action was a key pledge of the SNP's election manifesto, which also stated that a Nationalist government would operate a presumption against the centralisation of "core" hospital services. He said: "There is a growing body of evidence to say that if we specialise certain types of emergency care in certain areas, outcomes will be better. People will live better and live longer.
Decisions to downgrade A&E services sparked protests by local residents, some of whom are due to be at the Scottish Parliament later on Wednesday. "The plan that we put together, the national framework for Scotland, in which we are taking the majority of work to community Casualties, meant that most patients with minor ailments will be treated closer to home.
But the previous health minister, Andy Kerr, said the changes would streamline emergency medicine, with most care provided in community casualty facilities, while specialised A&E departments would deal with more serious cases. "And those who required more specialised care would have it done in those hospitals appropriately designated, with properly trained staff."
The easiest thing for me to do would be to reject all the health evidence, reject all the reviews and commissions, and be popular. But as a result of that, people will die Andy KerrLabour health spokesman
The reversal of the accident and emergency plans was a key pledge of the SNP's election manifesto, which also stated that a Nationalist government would operate a presumption against the centralisation of "core" hospital services.
Decisions to downgrade A&E services sparked protests by local residents, some of whom are due to be at the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday.
But the former health minister, Andy Kerr, said the changes would streamline emergency medicine, with most care provided in community casualty facilities, while specialised A&E departments would deal with more serious cases.
He said that he believed Ms Sturgeon was making the wrong decision in keeping the A&E units open.
He said: "The view of the clinical teams is that the outcomes for patients are improved with specialisation."
"The easiest thing for me to do would be to reject all the health evidence, reject all the reviews and commissions, and be popular.
"But as a result of that, people will die."
Ms Sturgeon has said she had to take account of the pressure that health authorities faced, but added that as much weight as possible would be given to public opinion.Ms Sturgeon has said she had to take account of the pressure that health authorities faced, but added that as much weight as possible would be given to public opinion.