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Patient Groups Protest Over Pounds-20,000 Ad Campaign 'Con' Pickets Claim Health Board Posters Gloss Over Downgrading to Acads

Posted on: Thursday, 7 July 2005, 06:00 CDT

GLASGOW health bosses have been accused of trying to con the public over the downgrading of two city hospitals.

Campaigners boycotted launch parties for a pounds-20,000 health board advertising campaign, blasting it as a total waste of money.

NHS Greater Glasgow invited patient groups to Stobhill Hospital and the Victoria Infirmary to see the unveiling of a fleet of advertising trailers that will tour the city.

However, many rejected the invitation and opted to protest outside instead.

The health board's poster campaign highlights controversial plans that will downgrade the hospitals. It is in the middle of a two- year plan to cut pounds-58million from its budget.

Existing buildings will be replaced by Ambulatory Care and Diagnostic units, Acads, which will offer routine treatment, day surgery and tests.

However, they will have no in-patients beds or accident and emergency units and will be open to the public for about only 12 hours a day.

The ad campaign carries the slogan 'Working for a better health service' and says New Victoria Hospital 2008 or New Stobhill Hospital 2008.

Margaret Hinds, who chairs the Health Service Forum South East, and its president Pat Lally, former lord provost, were among the dozens who picketed yesterday's launch at the Victoria Infirmary.

She said: "The health board is trying to con people by calling the Acad a hospital.

With no beds and no A&E you can hardly call it that."

Mrs Hinds added: "This tells people nothing about the new units.

"It is a ridiculous waste of money that would be better spent on patients."

Dr Robert Cumming, a Save Stobhill campaigner and former consultant at the north Glasgow hospital, slammed the move as he led dozens of campaigners in protest at Stobhill.

He said: "Closing down hospital beds is nothing to celebrate.

"I am against the board calling it a hospital when it will not have the medical and surgical support it needs to operate safely."

Ahealth board spokeswoman rejected the claims and insisted: "The original term Acad was confusing for people and did not reflect what the new buildings will offer.

"These new hospitals will provide health care for patients and will be staffed by doctors, nurses and other support staff.

It seems quite fair to say that they are hospitals."

She defended the poster campaign saying: "This is the first step in engaging with communities about the services we will be able to offer locally.

"Too much of the debate has focused on what the hospitals won't have and not enough on what will be available.

"We want to help people understand what we will offer at the new hospitals."

john. mccann@eveningtimes. co. uk

Source: Evening Times; Glasgow (UK)

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