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A&E decision halts cancer centre A&E decision halts cancer centre
(about 3 hours later)
Plans for new health services in Ayrshire have been put on hold in order to retain an accident and emergency unit, BBC Scotland has learned.Plans for new health services in Ayrshire have been put on hold in order to retain an accident and emergency unit, BBC Scotland has learned.
Last month, Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon overturned her predecessor's decision to close the units at Ayr Hospital and Monklands in Lanarkshire.Last month, Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon overturned her predecessor's decision to close the units at Ayr Hospital and Monklands in Lanarkshire.
She said the retention of A&E at Ayr was the right decision and denied the board's plans were in disarray.
Among the proposed services suspended is a new cancer centre based at Ayr.Among the proposed services suspended is a new cancer centre based at Ayr.
Ms Sturgeon said keeping A&E at Ayr was right but opposition parties warned over the impact on other services.
NHS Ayrshire and Arran had also planned community casualty units at Girvan, Cumnock and Irvine.NHS Ayrshire and Arran had also planned community casualty units at Girvan, Cumnock and Irvine.
The services have been put on hold until revised plans have been independently scrutinised and approved.The services have been put on hold until revised plans have been independently scrutinised and approved.
I made it very clear when I took the decision to retain accident and emergency what I expected the board to deliver and that was A&E at Ayr but most, if not all, of these vital community services Nicola Sturgeon MSPHealth secretary Have your say on A&E changesI made it very clear when I took the decision to retain accident and emergency what I expected the board to deliver and that was A&E at Ayr but most, if not all, of these vital community services Nicola Sturgeon MSPHealth secretary Have your say on A&E changes
The decision to keep Ayr and Monklands A&E units open was one of the first announcements made by Ms Sturgeon when she became health secretary.The decision to keep Ayr and Monklands A&E units open was one of the first announcements made by Ms Sturgeon when she became health secretary.
Andy Kerr MSP, the former Labour health minister who took the decision to close the casualty units, said Ms Sturgeon had taken a short-term populist decision that would harm patients.Andy Kerr MSP, the former Labour health minister who took the decision to close the casualty units, said Ms Sturgeon had taken a short-term populist decision that would harm patients.
"If you seek to reverse some of those core decisions then clearly there will be an effect on other services," he said."If you seek to reverse some of those core decisions then clearly there will be an effect on other services," he said.
Gavin Tate, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock, said he was worried that health services in Ayrshire and Arran would suffer.Gavin Tate, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock, said he was worried that health services in Ayrshire and Arran would suffer.
Patient interests
"The problem will be that the health board may well, if required to maintain two full A&E departments, be unable to fulfil the other extensive plans for the improvement in cancer services, eye services, local community casualty units and other significant developments." said Mr Tate."The problem will be that the health board may well, if required to maintain two full A&E departments, be unable to fulfil the other extensive plans for the improvement in cancer services, eye services, local community casualty units and other significant developments." said Mr Tate.
'Extra investment'
When Ms Sturgeon made her announcement in June she made it clear that she expected an impact on some other services but that the bulk of the new services should still go ahead.When Ms Sturgeon made her announcement in June she made it clear that she expected an impact on some other services but that the bulk of the new services should still go ahead.
She told BBC Scotand: "I made it very clear when I took the decision to retain accident and emergency what I expected the board to deliver and that was A&E at Ayr but most, if not all, of these vital community services. She told BBC Scotland: "I made it very clear when I took the decision to retain accident and emergency what I expected the board to deliver and that was A&E at Ayr but most, if not all, of these vital community services.
"I see no reason why that can't be achieved and when the final proposals come to me for approval I'll be looking very closely at them to make sure that the interests of patients are protected. "I see no reason why that can't be achieved and when the final proposals come to me for approval I'll be looking very closely at them to make sure that the interests of patients are protected."
"(The board) is looking again at how to deliver some of these services in light of the decision I took, which I believe incidentally was the right decision, to retain vital accident and emergency services at Ayr. Conservative MSP, John Scott said the decision taken by Ms Sturgeon was the right one, but he added: "I have always made it clear that other services should not suffer in the long-term."
Liberal Democrat health spokesman Ross Finnie said the health secretary was being "naive" if she thought her decision to keep the emergency unit open would not jeopardise other services.
He added: "If she is determined to see improvements in community healthcare, in addition to running a full accident and emergency service in Ayrshire, significant extra investment will be needed."