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Battle Lines Drawn Over A&E Services Health Board Set to Open Talks As Countdown to Decision Begins

Posted on: Sunday, 29 January 2006, 12:00 CST

By JOHN McCANN Health Reporter

THE future of Lanarkshire's accident and emergency services will be decided in just three months.

OnMonday NHS Lanarkshire launches talks on major changes to hospital services. But just two days later the first demonstration against the plans will be held as politicians and unions begin their fight against the closure of a casualty unit.

The health board wants to hear the views of patients affected by changes.

But, as with recent consultations in nearby Glasgow, campaigners fear a decision has already been made, signalling the end of emergency treatment at Monklands Hospital in Airdrie.

That could condemn criticallyill patients from Airdrie, Coatbridge, Cumbernauld and further afield to an ambulance ride to Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

The only other A&E unit being considered for closure is Hairmyres in East Kilbride after Lanarkshire's third general hospital, Wishaw General - in First Minister Jack McConnell's constituency - was told it would escape the cuts.

But plans for the closure have still seen a battle of political heavyweights with Health Minister Andy Kerr representing East Kilbride and Westminster Health Minister John Reid's constituency including Monklands.

Monklands is favourite to shut but its closure could cause a headache for Glasgow. The city's largest hospital already struggles to find beds and faces more difficulty as the city's adult casualty units are cut from five to two.

"The Royal has the second worst figures in Glasgow for casualty delays with more than one in eight patients spending more than the four-hour target in the unit. But NHS Lanarkshire argues it is "clinically unsafe" to sustain three A&E units beyond 2009.

A health board report points out: "We are required to meet the European Working Time Directive and Modernising Medical Careers, which reduce the levels of medical staff time available."

The first cuts hours for all doctors while the second reduces the time students spend treating patients instead of studying.

Whichever hospital loses its A&E would become the centre for planned surgery for the area and the site for a new cancer centre.

But opponents of the move have yet to be convinced longer travel times for the critically ill are safe, leading to fierce political opposition.

The board's consultation paper, A Picture of Health, also includes plans to close the area's largest psychiatric hospital, Hartwoodhill, but promises more care for mental illnesses closer to home.

On Wednesday, MSPs will host their first major public meeting to discuss plans to fight any closure.

SNP Central Scotland MSP Alex Neil said: "In the recent freeze it took me a full hour to drive from Airdrie to Coatbridge.

"To drive across Lanarkshire to Wishaw or Hairmyres would take far longer and that cannot be safe for seriously ill people."

Elizabeth Seaton, 66, chairwoman of the Charity North Lanarkshire Carers Together, favours the controversial plans.

The former catering manager looked after her husband James for more than 10 years until his death last year.

Mr Seaton's spinal cord was severed in a road accident in 1995. His wife said: "After the accident my husband was taken to Wishaw General then transferred to the Southern General in Glasgow.

"That meant I had to travel from Wishaw to Govan every day with three changes of bus and train but I was willing to do that because I knew he was in the best place to get the best care."

TIMES FILE

NHS Lanarkshire is holding a series of public meetings at locations across the county.

These meetings will begin on February 21 at Wishaw Sports Centre and end on March 30 at the Time Capsule in Coatbridge.

Members of the public can make their views known to the health board by visiting its website www. a-picture-of-health. org or by e- mailing a-picture-ofhealth@lanarkshire. scot. nhs. uk Written comments can be sent to The Chief Executive, NHS Lanarkshire, Freepost SCO4606, Hamilton, ML3 0BR.

Source: Evening Times; Glasgow (UK)

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