Sturgeon Operates to Secure Future for St John’s Hospital
By Alan Roden Health Reporter
HEALTH Secretary Nicola Sturgeon today delighted campaigners by securing the future of St John’s Hospital and blocking any further removal of services.
But the Nationalist MSP was accused of “failing to deliver” on an election pledge to hold a review into returning some patient services to the Livingston hospital.
The SNP successfully campaigned on this issue in West Lothian, helping it to defeat Labour in the Livingston parliamentary constituency.
However, Ms Sturgeon has refused to give any commitment to a review and admitted she “can’t unpick all decisions”.
Labour Linlithgow MSP Mary Mulligan today said this was “unfair” on the electorate and “very disappointing”, while the Labour group on West Lothian Council also called for the “immediate return” of services.
Trauma orthopaedics and general surgery were moved from St John’s Hospital and transferred to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary in 2004.
NHS Lothian insisted the future of St John’s was secure, but its statements were met with scepticism by campaigners.
Councillor John Cochrane, leader of the Action to Save St John’s Council Group, today said: “The statement by the Health Secretary is a great step forward and we are delighted that the SNP are working so hard with us to secure the long term future of St John’s.
“We look forward to more positive words from Ms Sturgeon when we meet with her and [Livingston MSP] Angela Constance, and to positive action in the future.”
In an interview with the Evening News, Ms Sturgeon said: “I can absolutely guarantee that St John’s will be maintained as an acute hospital.”
But she also said it was “premature” to talk about returning services and said she was “not going to raise expectations”.
Ms Mulligan said: “During the election campaign, there was an inference from the SNP that by getting rid of Labour, some hospital services would return. This seems to have dropped off the agenda. That is disappointing.”
But Ms Constance said the Health Secretary’s “line in the sand” went further than previous assurances.
Campaigners feared West Lothian would also lose its intensive care unit, maternity ward and even accident and emergency department to Edinburgh – although the health board had drawn up no such plans.
Ms Constance said: “I am delighted Nicola Sturgeon has moved so quickly on this matter and her statement gives us all the certainty on the future of St John’s that has been missing for so long. We can now focus on establishing a wider health strategy for the Lothians, without the fear of continued downgrading.”
Breakdown
Services removed from St John’s Hospital
Trauma orthopaedics Emergency surgery Mortuary services Pathology
Services introduced at St John’s Hospital
Renal unit Centre for severe post-natal depression mothers Phototherapy unit Ear, nose and throat services Oncology day unit
Services still at St John’s Hospital
Accident and emergency Burns Cardiology Dermatology Gastroenterology General medicine and surgery Gynaecology Haematology Nephrology Neurology Obstetrics Opthalmology Paediatrics Plastic surgery Respiratory medicine Rheumatology Surgical paediatrics
(c) 2007 Evening News; Edinburgh (UK). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.