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| A&E closure decisions overturned | A&E closure decisions overturned |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon has announced to parliament that decisions to close two accident and emergency units will be reversed. | Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon has announced to parliament that decisions to close two accident and emergency units will be reversed. |
| The previous government had endorsed plans to close A&E units at Ayr hospital and Monklands in Lanarkshire. | The previous government had endorsed plans to close A&E units at Ayr hospital and Monklands in Lanarkshire. |
| But Ms Sturgeon said health boards in those areas had failed to give enough weight to concerns from local people. | But Ms Sturgeon said health boards in those areas had failed to give enough weight to concerns from local people. |
| Former health minister Andy Kerr branded the announcement a con and a "sell-out of gigantic proportions". | Former health minister Andy Kerr branded the announcement a con and a "sell-out of gigantic proportions". |
| NHS Ayrshire and Arran and NHS Lanarkshire have now been instructed to produce revised proposals by the end of the year to allow A&E services to continue. | NHS Ayrshire and Arran and NHS Lanarkshire have now been instructed to produce revised proposals by the end of the year to allow A&E services to continue. |
| I welcome her can-do attitude to making two A&E units work in Ayrshire John Scott MSPScottish Conservatives | I welcome her can-do attitude to making two A&E units work in Ayrshire John Scott MSPScottish Conservatives |
| Those proposals, along with future ones, will also be independently scrutinised. | Those proposals, along with future ones, will also be independently scrutinised. |
| "I have reversed the decisions because I think that is the right thing for the public and patients in Lanarkshire and in Ayrshire," Ms Sturgeon told MSPs. | "I have reversed the decisions because I think that is the right thing for the public and patients in Lanarkshire and in Ayrshire," Ms Sturgeon told MSPs. |
| "The two boards did not in my view give sufficient weight to the concerns expressed by local people about the planned withdrawal of A&E services. | "The two boards did not in my view give sufficient weight to the concerns expressed by local people about the planned withdrawal of A&E services. |
| "And the boards did not consult on options that retained A&E services at all of the hospital sites - so the public had no opportunity to weigh up costs and benefits." | "And the boards did not consult on options that retained A&E services at all of the hospital sites - so the public had no opportunity to weigh up costs and benefits." |
| Hospital campaigners sitting in the parliament's public benches cheered as the announcement was made - some held up placards stating "SNP saves A&E". | Hospital campaigners sitting in the parliament's public benches cheered as the announcement was made - some held up placards stating "SNP saves A&E". |
| Ms Sturgeon, who said she would be operating a presumption against centralisation, stressed that public opinion could not override genuine concerns about the safety of services, but neither could it be ignored. | Ms Sturgeon, who said she would be operating a presumption against centralisation, stressed that public opinion could not override genuine concerns about the safety of services, but neither could it be ignored. |
| However, she said the government had no plans to rewrite "comprehensively" the strategy for the NHS and agreed it was important to shift the balance of care into communities - a strategy favoured by the previous Scottish Executive. | However, she said the government had no plans to rewrite "comprehensively" the strategy for the NHS and agreed it was important to shift the balance of care into communities - a strategy favoured by the previous Scottish Executive. |
| The A&E at Monklands hospital will be saved | The A&E at Monklands hospital will be saved |
| She said the services in Ayr and Lanarkshire would be retained because of particular local circumstances, including geography and high levels of ill health and deprivation. | She said the services in Ayr and Lanarkshire would be retained because of particular local circumstances, including geography and high levels of ill health and deprivation. |
| NHS Ayrshire and Arran and NHS Lanarkshire said they would be working closely with Ms Sturgeon to ensure the changes she has asked for are implemented. | |
| NHS Lanarkshire chairman Ken Corsar said the health board did not underestimate the challenge of maintaining three A&E departments in the region. | |
| He added: "Following this announcement we will develop a process, which will be led by clinical staff, with the remit of identifying proposals that meet the Cabinet Secretary's commitment." | |
| But Andy Kerr, now Scottish Labour health spokesman, accused Ms Sturgeon of failing to bring detail to accompany the decision. | |
| He claimed she had "abdicated her responsibility to make tough decisions", saying of the announcement: "They will cause months of uncertainty, they will put services at risk, they will shatter the confidence of clinicians, they will cause a flight of specialist skills. | He claimed she had "abdicated her responsibility to make tough decisions", saying of the announcement: "They will cause months of uncertainty, they will put services at risk, they will shatter the confidence of clinicians, they will cause a flight of specialist skills. |
| "But most of all, and the evidence is there to support this view, they will put patients' lives at risk." | "But most of all, and the evidence is there to support this view, they will put patients' lives at risk." |
| Scots Tory Ayr MSP John Scott welcomed the announcement, saying of Ms Sturgeon: "I welcome her can-do attitude to making two A&E units work in Ayrshire." | Scots Tory Ayr MSP John Scott welcomed the announcement, saying of Ms Sturgeon: "I welcome her can-do attitude to making two A&E units work in Ayrshire." |
| But Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesman Ross Finnie said he was concerned that the government had made the announcement before the health boards had a chance to bring forward alternative proposals. | But Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesman Ross Finnie said he was concerned that the government had made the announcement before the health boards had a chance to bring forward alternative proposals. |
| "I am disappointed that (Ms Sturgeon) did not take the opportunity to present the evidence she has used to come to this decision to parliament," he added. | "I am disappointed that (Ms Sturgeon) did not take the opportunity to present the evidence she has used to come to this decision to parliament," he added. |