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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| 'No convincing case' to shut A&Es | 'No convincing case' to shut A&Es |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| An independent panel of experts has said there was "no convincing case" for closing accident and emergency departments at Ayr and Monklands. | An independent panel of experts has said there was "no convincing case" for closing accident and emergency departments at Ayr and Monklands. |
| The panel was set up by Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon after she reversed decisions to close the A&Es. | The panel was set up by Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon after she reversed decisions to close the A&Es. |
| The scrutiny panel reports said the Ayrshire and Lanarkshire health boards failed to back up their plans with evidence or reliable figures. | The scrutiny panel reports said the Ayrshire and Lanarkshire health boards failed to back up their plans with evidence or reliable figures. |
| The two health boards said they would consider the panel's findings. | The two health boards said they would consider the panel's findings. |
| READ THE REPORTS Report on proposals for NHS Lanarkshire A&E [29KB]Report on proposals for NHS Ayrshire A&E [29KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here | READ THE REPORTS Report on proposals for NHS Lanarkshire A&E [29KB]Report on proposals for NHS Ayrshire A&E [29KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here |
| The two reports, by an independent panel led by Dr Andrew Walker, are strongly critical of the proposals to remove consultant-led A&E services from the hospitals. | The two reports, by an independent panel led by Dr Andrew Walker, are strongly critical of the proposals to remove consultant-led A&E services from the hospitals. |
| Health bosses are accused of using selective quotations in making their case for change. | |
| NHS Lanarkshire is said to have used out-of-date evidence. | NHS Lanarkshire is said to have used out-of-date evidence. |
| A statement issued by NHS Lanarkshire said: "We have always recognised that this is a very complex review and which both the board and the Independent Scrutiny Panel have completed in a very condensed timeframe. | A statement issued by NHS Lanarkshire said: "We have always recognised that this is a very complex review and which both the board and the Independent Scrutiny Panel have completed in a very condensed timeframe. |
| "The ISP Report will be fully considered by the board along with a comprehensive suite of information prior to making a decision on a preferred option for retaining A&E services at Monklands Hospital when it meets at the end of January. | "The ISP Report will be fully considered by the board along with a comprehensive suite of information prior to making a decision on a preferred option for retaining A&E services at Monklands Hospital when it meets at the end of January. |
| "Once the board has reached a conclusion, this will be passed to the Cabinet Secretary for her consideration." | "Once the board has reached a conclusion, this will be passed to the Cabinet Secretary for her consideration." |
| New proposals | New proposals |
| NHS Ayrshire and Arran said: "At its meeting on 23 January 2008, the NHS Board will consider the panel's report along with other relevant findings and advice. | NHS Ayrshire and Arran said: "At its meeting on 23 January 2008, the NHS Board will consider the panel's report along with other relevant findings and advice. |
| "In reaching a conclusion and then making a recommendation for the cabinet secretary's consideration, the NHS board will ensure that accident and emergency services will be provided at both Ayr and Crosshouse hospitals." | "In reaching a conclusion and then making a recommendation for the cabinet secretary's consideration, the NHS board will ensure that accident and emergency services will be provided at both Ayr and Crosshouse hospitals." |
| Plans to downgrade the A&E departments to minor injury units were approved by the last Scottish Labour administration in 2006. | Plans to downgrade the A&E departments to minor injury units were approved by the last Scottish Labour administration in 2006. |
| But when the SNP took over last May it told health boards to draw up new proposals and created a panel to scrutinise them. | But when the SNP took over last May it told health boards to draw up new proposals and created a panel to scrutinise them. |
| Both boards submitted proposals which were said to support schemes which still would cut emergency care. | Both boards submitted proposals which were said to support schemes which still would cut emergency care. |
| Ms Sturgeon said the independent panel reports "confirm the government's view" that the decisions to close the two units were "wrong". | Ms Sturgeon said the independent panel reports "confirm the government's view" that the decisions to close the two units were "wrong". |
| PANEL MEMBERS Dr Andrew Walker Senior Lecturer in Health Economics at Glasgow UniversityDr Ian Anderson Consultant in A&E Medicine at Victoria Infirmary in GlasgowMartyn Evans Director of the Scottish Consumer CouncilAngela Scott Head of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy in Scotland. | PANEL MEMBERS Dr Andrew Walker Senior Lecturer in Health Economics at Glasgow UniversityDr Ian Anderson Consultant in A&E Medicine at Victoria Infirmary in GlasgowMartyn Evans Director of the Scottish Consumer CouncilAngela Scott Head of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy in Scotland. |
| She told BBC Good Morning Scotland: "Any service that is not clinically safe will not operate in Scotland, that is an absolute given. | She told BBC Good Morning Scotland: "Any service that is not clinically safe will not operate in Scotland, that is an absolute given. |
| "The A&E services at Monklands and Ayr are clinically safe, the question is whether the boards in Ayrshire and Lanarkshire made a convincing case to change those services and indeed remove them altogether. | "The A&E services at Monklands and Ayr are clinically safe, the question is whether the boards in Ayrshire and Lanarkshire made a convincing case to change those services and indeed remove them altogether. |
| "The report today says that case was not made. It is now for the boards in question to reflect on the comments made in this report and reflect on revised proposals." | "The report today says that case was not made. It is now for the boards in question to reflect on the comments made in this report and reflect on revised proposals." |
| Labour health spokeswoman Margaret Curran said: "What we have seen is that the consultation was flawed and I think that should be looked at. | Labour health spokeswoman Margaret Curran said: "What we have seen is that the consultation was flawed and I think that should be looked at. |
| "It is a very, very serious criticism and health boards should listen to that very strongly, but that is not a substitute for making sure you address issues of clinical safety. | "It is a very, very serious criticism and health boards should listen to that very strongly, but that is not a substitute for making sure you address issues of clinical safety. |
| "Nicola Sturgeon has been challenged on that before. I suspect she will be challenged on that again." | "Nicola Sturgeon has been challenged on that before. I suspect she will be challenged on that again." |