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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Board downgrade plans criticised | Board downgrade plans criticised |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A health board's handling of plans to downgrade the Vale of Leven hospital in West Dunbartonshire has been criticised by an independent panel. | A health board's handling of plans to downgrade the Vale of Leven hospital in West Dunbartonshire has been criticised by an independent panel. |
| The panel, appointed by the Scottish Government, said NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde failed to assess the risks and the alternatives. | The panel, appointed by the Scottish Government, said NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde failed to assess the risks and the alternatives. |
| Experts found the health board made it impossible to assess value for money. | Experts found the health board made it impossible to assess value for money. |
| The hospital in Alexandria faced losing its birthing unit, anaesthetics and unscheduled medical care. | The hospital in Alexandria faced losing its birthing unit, anaesthetics and unscheduled medical care. |
| Some of its mental health beds were also due to go. | Some of its mental health beds were also due to go. |
| Shortly after the SNP was elected to government on a pledge to save local hospitals, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde announced proposals to further downgrade services at the hospital. | Shortly after the SNP was elected to government on a pledge to save local hospitals, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde announced proposals to further downgrade services at the hospital. |
| Vale of Leven maternity unit closed in October 2002 and its accident and emergency unit was shut down two months later. | Vale of Leven maternity unit closed in October 2002 and its accident and emergency unit was shut down two months later. |
| It is important to emphasise that we will consider all of the panel's conclusions before making decisions on how to proceed Catriona RenfrewNHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde | |
| Health chiefs announced in May that they wanted to scale back emergency procedures and other hospital services. | Health chiefs announced in May that they wanted to scale back emergency procedures and other hospital services. |
| The proposals recommended that future emergency patients should instead go to the Paisley's Royal Alexandra Hospital. | The proposals recommended that future emergency patients should instead go to the Paisley's Royal Alexandra Hospital. |
| But in July, Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said no final decision had yet been taken. | But in July, Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said no final decision had yet been taken. |
| The Independent Scrutiny Panel report raised concerns about the proposals and highlighted further work to be done by the health board. Professor Angus Mackay, chairman of the panel, said: "We have been greatly impressed by the conviction and clarity of the views received from the public, both at public meetings, and sent in writing. | |
| "These meetings highlighted public concern over hospital bed closures and whether needs could be met by care in the community, ambulance transfers and transport problems in areas affected by centralisation and a lack of confidence amongst some to challenge clinical views about safety." | |
| Catriona Renfrew, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde's director of corporate planning and policy, said that they had just received the latest report and so far only had the opportunity to note its key conclusions. | Catriona Renfrew, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde's director of corporate planning and policy, said that they had just received the latest report and so far only had the opportunity to note its key conclusions. |
| She added: "We recognise that the report has raised a number of important issues which we obviously need to carefully consider, we are encouraged that the panel have concluded that many of our proposals are based on sound principles. | She added: "We recognise that the report has raised a number of important issues which we obviously need to carefully consider, we are encouraged that the panel have concluded that many of our proposals are based on sound principles. |
| "It is important to emphasise that we will consider all of the panel's conclusions before making decisions on how to proceed." | "It is important to emphasise that we will consider all of the panel's conclusions before making decisions on how to proceed." |