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Links to News Articles, Press Releases, Public meetings and Petition |
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The Association of South Ayrshire Community Councils Petition |
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IF YOU WISH TO SUPPORT THE RETENTION OF THE FULL ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY FACILITY AT AYR HOSPITAL PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION. (please return completed petition to A.S.A.C.C. c/o 32 Bell Rock Avenue Prestwick KA9 1SQ) Left click to open or right click and "save target as" to save and print this Word document |
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Following a review of how we provide unscheduled and emergency care, NHS Ayrshire & Arran is consulting patients, staff and members of the public on some far-reaching recommendations. These include • the creation of local community casualty units at Davidson Hospital, Girvan; East Ayrshire Community Hospital, Cumnock; and Ayrshire Central Hospital, Irvine; and hospital-based community casualty units at Ayr and Crosshouse Hospitals • the consolidation of emergency care in a fully equipped accident and emergency service at Crosshouse Hospital supported by a 24-hour assessment unit, all emergency inpatient facilities, dedicated emergency surgery and trauma facilities and a specialist emergency cancer care unit. • a wide and comprehensive range of elective (planned) care at Ayr Hospital • a specialist unit at Crosshouse Hospital to deal with cancer emergencies • more community based palliative care beds
For more information about these recommendations, or to let us know what you think, come along to one of our public meetings, visit our website or contact us by • completing the feedback form on the website • writing to Review of Services Project, FREEPOST, SCO6879, Boswell House, 10 Arthur Street, Ayr KA7 1BR • telephoning free on 0800 169 1441 • emailing reviewofservices@aapct.scot.nhs.uk
Visit our website: www.nhsayrshireandarran.com You are invited to a public meeting NHS Ayrshire & Arran needs to know what you think about our recent review of unscheduled and emergency care. Please come along to ask questions and tell us what you think. 26 September - Belmont Academy, Assembly Hall, Ayr 27 September - Doon Academy, Dalmellington 29 September - Town Hall, Maybole 3 October - Cumnock Academy, Assembly Hall, Cumnock 4 October - Largs Academy, Assembly Hall, Largs 5 October - Radio City, Kilbirnie 10 October - Girvan Academy, Lecture Theatre, Girvan 11 October - Ardrossan Academy, Assembly Hall, Ardrossan 13 October - Newmilns Primary School, Newmilns 24 October - Ballantrae Community Centre, Ballantrae 25 October - Grange Academy, Assembly Hall, Kilmarnock 26 October - Magnum Lecture Theatre, Irvine 27 October - Brodick Hall, Arran All meetings will take place from 7pm to 9pm. Please let us know if you are planning to come along to one of the meetings. Call freephone 0800 169 1441 or email reviewofservices@aapct.scot.nhs.uk This is to ensure we provide a suitable venue and meet any special requirements you may have. |
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Reviewing our services with you. Ayrshire & Arran NHS Board may debate the findings of the current public and stakeholder consultation on the review of emergency and unscheduled care at their meeting in March 2006. At the NHS Board meeting on Wednesday 5 October 2005, members heard that this would allow essential, detailed, in-depth analysis of the findings of the consultation, which is due to end in December 2005. Chairman Professor George L Irving advised members that he had received a letter to the Board from Cathy Jamieson, MSP, in which she asked for assurances that the NHS Board would take full consideration of all the views presented during the consultation programme. Professor Irving explained: ³Mrs Jamieson also asked for assurances that no decision has been taken already to pursue the option out for consultation, that we will properly consider all contributions made during the consultation, and that we will not take a decision to proceed on any option at our January meeting. "With the approval of the Board I can give these assurances. We again confirm that no decision has yet even been contemplated, far less taken, as evidenced by the Board's willingness to defer any such considerations until at least March 2006. We can also confirm quite categorically that, irrespective of the outcome of the current exercise, there is no threat whatsoever to the future of Ayr Hospital. We will continue to develop the services at Ayr Hospital as a vital element of healthcare to the people of Ayrshire and Arran. "We welcome the views of all staff, patients, partner organisations, elected members and the public and all will be carefully recorded, analysed and considered." |
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Ayrshire Post - 29th September 2005 |
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MORE than 10,000 people have signed a petition against the plan to close A&E at Ayr. South Ayrshire’s Association of Community Councils say the campaign is gathering pace and they expect the number of signatures to soar. The petitions are available to sign at shops, churches and community facilities. FURTHER consultation meetings will be held by NHS Ayrshire and Arran at the following venues between 7-9pm. Maybole Town Hall, September 26; Cumnock Academy, October 3; Girvan Academy, October 10; Ballantrae Community Centre, October 24. You can also view the proposal at www.nhsayrshireandarran.com .
Chiefs walk out of meeting Staff were told they’d have to send John Scott packing if they wanted to hear what their superiors had to say about plans to close Ayr’s accident and emergency unit. Stunned ambulance crews had asked their own boss for permission to invite the Ayr MSP to the meeting at the ambulance base in Prestwick on Friday. One of the paramedics involved explained: “We were told it was no problem. We wanted John Scott there and we believe were entitled to have him. But on the Friday someone from the board called to say that the meeting wouldn’t go ahead if John Scott was present.” More than 20 members of the local ambulance service turned up for the meeting. They agreed unanimously to stick by their guns and insist that Mr Scott was allowed to sit in. The paramedic explained: “We said we were happy for him not to participate in the discussion but just to observe. But they just refused point blank. They told us they would cancel the meeting and reschedule it for next week and Mr Scott could attend. That just doesn’t make any sense.” Dr Bob Masterton, the board’s executive medical director, insist there’s no hidden agenda: “We hoped you would do us the courtesy of a meeting – professionals to professionals.”
Think again say hundreds Politicians weighed in too, with four MSPs and one MP telling the panel they had got it badly wrong. The Belmont Academy meeting, on a wet and windy Monday night, was chaired by former TV news presenter Alan Douglas, now a media consultant. And it was impossible for everyone who wanted to speak to have their say – all of them against any thought of Ayr A&E closure. Two of the five people on the panel became virtual lame ducks, as far as having any credibility with the audience was concerned. GP Dr Iain Richards was introduced as ‘practising in East Ayrshire and living in South Ayrshire’. But when it emerged his practice was in central Kilmarnock, the Ayr public were no longer interested in his views. Sam Kennedy, general manager of the Scottish Ambulance Service in the south-west, also became an ineffectual voice. For it was clear that his own ambulance personnel and paramedics in the audience vehemently disagreed with him. And they just weren’t buying his management line that the extra journey time to Crosshouse posed no extra risk for South Ayrshire patients. It fell to medical director Dr Bob Masterton, strategy chief Kirsten Major, and chief A&E consultant Crawford McGuffie to sell the package. Dr Masterton stressed the proposals weren’t his, but had emerged from a group of health professionals along with 26 lay people. But the method used to reach the proposals was scorned as ‘utterly flawed’ by retired academic Leslie Hunter. He pointed out that people were asked to ‘score’ a range options in order of preference. And questions could be posed in a way to give ‘a highly dubious outcome’. Kirsten Major insisted the method was sound, and recommended by the government. Retired GP Dr Neil Beattie said it would be ‘an act of treachery’ if Ayr’s A&E was closed. And he said local GPs did not support the health board proposals. Dr Masterton said the proposals had won support from the Ayrshire & Arran’s GP sub-committee. Paramedic Sharon Hannah said she had just been trained in a cricotomy technique – inserting a small tube, to keep a patient breathing. This bought 15 minutes to keep a patient alive – not enough time to get to Crosshouse. And she asked why ambulances had blue lights and horns, if time wasn’t important. Dr McGuffie insisted time and distance weren’t the most important factors, although he conceded blue lights and horns allowed ambulances to proceed ‘without delay’. Consultant anaesthetist Dr Boyd Meiklejohn said ambulance journeys weren’t the ‘harmless activity’ the panel seemed to be portraying. He said: “The last thing you want to do, if you’re critically ill, is spend a minute longer than you have to in the back of an ambulance.” Douglas Brown, retired orthopaedic surgeon and first chairman of South Ayrshire Hospitals Trust, said A&E was at the heart of a major hospital. And if Ayr were to lose it, there would be a knock-on effect for other departments and for training junior doctors. Dr Masterton denied that junior doctors would no longer be trained at Ayr, if its A&E were closed. DON’T miss out on the chance to have your say on the future of accident and emergency services, urged Maybole Community Council this week. NHS Ayrshire and Arran will hold a consultation meeting in Maybole Town Hall between 7pm and 9pm on Thursday, September 29, to discuss their review of services. Chairman David Kiltie said: “I would urge everyone to hear what the board has to say. If people don’t take the trouble to attend, the board will use that to say that their proposals are acceptable to the public.” “If after people have heard the proposals they want to retain the A&E unit at Ayr we would like them to sign our petition.” The community council has arranged for posters telling people about the meeting to be distributed in the town and have put a large banner up in the High Street. Mr Kiltie added: “This matter is too important not to attend.”
Refusal to back A&E transfer
“It was a sad day for leadership in the council,” said Tory Peter Convery. “We had hoped for a united front, just as there was when we were fighting for the retention of paediatric services. Labour had clearly taken a decision earlier, at their group meeting.” But you could see Labour councillors squirm with embarrassment,” added Councillor Convery. “One even commented that Ayr Hospital was suffering ‘death by a thousand cuts’. “But he still voted with his group against the motion.” An insider told the Post that Labour councillors may have closed ranks to protect a colleague. For Councillor Ian Stewart, the council’s representative on NHS Ayrshire & Arran, supported proposals which include the closure of Ayr’s A&E. And he would be ‘hung out to dry’ if the council’s Labour group immediately abandoned him. Council leader, Councillor Andy Hill, who chairs the P&R committee, insists the council can’t ‘put the cart before the horse’. He said: “The most important thing in all of this is that they (NHS Ayrshire & Arran) are out there consulting, and this could change their mind. “That’s why we’re giving them the opportunity to do their consultation, and we would look rather foolish if we didn’t.” Councillor Hill said there was a united front on the paediatric issue because the health chiefs’ consultation at that time was ‘abysmal’. “Now they’ve improved things, and we don’t want to put the cart before the horse, as we could be accused of pre-judging the issue.” The motion put before last Wednesday’s meeting was from Councillor Gibson Macdonald, seconded by Councillor Hugh Hunter. It reads: “This council opposes the relocation of Accident and Emergency services located at Ayr Hospital to Crosshouse Hospital, and expresses the view that there is a requirement for Accident and Emergency services to be maintained at both Ayr and Crosshouse hospitals, as at present.” CONDEMNATION by Labour MSP Cathy Jamieson and MP Sandra Osborne throws a major spanner into health proposals which include closure of Ayr’s A&E. The pair spoke out at NHS Ayrshire and Arran’s first public consultation meeting, in Belmont Academy on Monday night. Sandra Osborne said: “My constituents, to a person, are against this.” And she chided Doctor Bob Masterton: “You gave me an assurance that your consultants were not only on board, but were driving these proposals. Now I find them saying people will die, and attacking the proposals.” Dr Masterton could only repeat his stand: “They are not my proposals. They are from a group of professionals and lay people.” Cathy Jamieson said: “I’m particularly concerned about people in the rural parts of my constituency.” And she told Dr Masterton: “Go back to your people, and bring forward new proposals.” The beleaguered health chief gave an undertaking to go back to the board. But he added: “I can’t speak for the board. It’s the board’s decision.” Mrs Osborne and Mrs Jamieson are both quoted in an Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock constituency Labour Party press release, issued on the day of the Belmont Academy meeting. The release welcomes the proposals for community casualty facilities at Cumnock and Girvan. But it calls for a re-think on the plan to close Ayr Hospital’s A&E service. Other MSPs at the Belmont Academy meeting also attacked the health plans. Tory list MSP Phil Gallie said he was speaking as a citizen whose wife was taken to the A&E in Ayr within the past week. He said: “You say your plans will result in better, quicker, closer, safer health care. But my wife was treated expertly at Ayr. It couldn’t have been any better, quicker, closer or safer.” He blasted: “The previous NHS Trust stood up for local interests. If the present board can’t do that, they should give up and let someone else do it.” Dr Masterton maintained: “It’s not realistic to run two competing hospitals. This is the best we can provide in the real world we live in.” SNP list MSP Adam Ingram recalled pledges made on the retention of Ayr Hospital’s A&E when a new improved A&E was opened at Crosshouse a year ago. Both the then Scottish health minister Malcolm Chisholm and the chairman of NHS Ayrshire & Arran, Professor Gordon Irving, said there was no threat to Ayr. Dr Masterton said the pledge was given in good faith. “At the time they were speaking the truth.” But Mr Ingram pointed out that Dr Masterton had earlier stated that discussions on the current proposals started long before the new Crosshouse A&E opened. Mr Ingram added: “Your bosses aren’t in Edinburgh. They’re sitting in this hall.” John Scott, the Tory MSP for Ayr, asked why there were no A&E consultants from Ayr or GPs from South Ayrshire on the platform. And he answered his own question by saying people now knew the views of professionals like consultant Fiona Gibson, anaesthetist Boyd Meiklejohn and paramedic Sharon Hannah. He compared their view to that of the ‘computer modelling’ done by health economist and strategy chief Kirsten Major. And Mr Scott declared: “I know who I believe.” In the aftermath of the meeting he said: “The proposals on the table are unacceptable. They must come back with new ones, retaining both A&Es, and improving the service by providing new community casualties at Irvine, Girvan and Cumnock.” LIVES will be lost if Ayr’s accident and emergency unit closes, a top doctor told a packed public meeting. A&E consultant Fiona Gibson insisted that extra journey time will be risky for critically sick or injured patients. She was one of four consultants from Ayr Hospital who publicly denounced the plan to centralise the service at Crosshouse Hospital at the meeting on Wednesday. She said: “My colleagues and I treated a baby last week that would not be alive today if he had not come to our department when he did. “This is a dangerous proposal and people will die if it is approved.” More than 400 people, including dozens of medical staff, packed into Ayr town hall for the highly charged meeting. Dr Gibson added: “I could not live with myself if I did not speak out against this.” Her views were echoed by numerous members of the A&E team at Ayr who turned up to voice their concerns. Dr Mathew O’Hare said: “I used to work in a large hospital where the waiting times could be 12 or 13 hours at a go. They don’t want this in Ayrshire. People should be angry at the way they are being treated.” A young paramedic also warned that there’s not enough staff to go round and training will be compromised if new recruits can’t be trained at Ayr. She explained: “In my area there are two ambulances on a night shift and three on a day shift. We struggle to meet the targets that we are set as it is in terms of the time we take to deal with calls. How on earth are we going to do this if we have to use Crosshouse.” She added: “People should also know that A&E at Ayr also help train paramedics. This is a compulsory part of our training and if there is only one A&E how will they cope training paramedics, doctors and nurses by themselves. I don’t believe that one unit will cope.” Consultant anaesthetist Ian Taylor, who runs the critical care unit at Ayr Hospital, dismissed the health board’s claims that the extra journey time won’t affect patients in an emergency. He said: “We’re told it’s 15 minutes from Ayr to Crosshouse. But it’s 18 miles and 11 roundabouts – it’s more like 25 minutes. They say that there is no evidence that the increased journey times will affect a patient’s chances of survival or recovery. If there is no hurry to get someone to hospital after a serious accident or illness then why have they given ambulances blue lights?” And an A&E charge nurse fears that the system is unworkable. She explained: “The health board say that there is to be a team of emergency nurse practitioners to work in new community casualty units. I am just one of two in Ayr at the moment and I’d like to know where all of these highly trained nurses are going to come from? “When a patient arrives at one of these new units and I can’t fix the problem, what then? Will we have ambulances standing by to send them to Crosshouse? Or do we tell them to drive 25 minutes by car or travel on the bus for an hour and a half? “I for one will not be comfortable working in these circumstances. I am very worried.” MEDICAL advisors insist they stand by their recommendation to centralise A&E services at Crosshouse Hospital. GP Dr David Watts, who is involved in two of the professional groups behind the move, claims that the more than 100 medical experts were consulted. He said: “The GP sub-committee debated the unscheduled care report and decided to support its main proposals, unanimously. “More than 100 clinicians – consultants doctors, nurses – including seven A&E staff along with the Scottish Ambulance Service and members of the public – were involved in the review leading to these recommendations.” Dr Watts, who is co-chairman of the review’s Unscheduled Care Group and secretary of the GP subcommittee, explained that community casualty units in Cumnock, Girvan, Irvine and Ayr will improve the service. He added: “We believe these proposals offer a real opportunity to bring care closer to people’s homes, locate the right specialists in the right place at the right time to treat the people who need them most.” And he dismissed claims that the closure of Ayr A&E will cost lives. He went on: “The issue of distance is not the most significant factor in saving lives. Today’s paramedics are highly skilled, well equipped and professional and the treatment patients receive initially to stabilise them, along with access to highly specialist care they need on arrival, are the factors that can be the difference between life and death.” His view was echoed by Sam Kennedy, general manager of the Scottish Ambulance Service. He said: “Given the geography and terrain of Scotland, the Ambulance Service must be capable of stabilising and transferring patients over long journeys and are well equipped to support the options for service redesign that are proposed.” |
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Ayrshire Post - 9th September 2005 |
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A TOP doctor has branded the move to close Ayr’s accident and emergency unit dangerous. And his fears have been echoed by a specialist accident and emergency nurse, who says she’s appalled at comments made by the health board’s chief executive, Dr Bob Masterton, last week. The doctor is a senior member of the medical team at Ayr Hospital and insists that Dr Masterton’s case for moving accident and emergency services to Crosshouse Hospital is flawed. He explained: “Bob Masterton’s argument that paramedics will keep critically ill patients alive indefinitely in ambulances is seriously flawed. Paramedics do an excellent job and they are very highly trained. But the plain fact is they can’t do everything. “If a critical patient is forced to travel an extra 18 miles through heavy traffic to Crosshouse, then it will affect their chances of survival.” The doctor added: “At the moment we have a full blown, fully functioning casualty department at Ayr with five intensive care beds, CT and MRI scanners. This department does an excellent job. There have been significant developments at Ayr Hospital in recent years that have greatly improved the service it provides. Now it appears that in the fullness of time these facilities will disappear and all of these improvements will be moved to Crosshouse.” Dr Masterton insisted last week that the paramedics are more than capable of caring for critically sick or injured patients during a long journey. But these claims were dismissed by an experienced A&E nurse. She explained: “If the blue light is required then the patient is acutely unwell. “Does Dr Masterton realise how difficult it is to maintain effective CPR for a length of time? I can assure you it is very hard. If the patient was from Girvan they would have a better chance of survival going to Ayr Hospital than travelling another 20 minutes to Crosshouse.” And she dismissed his claims that staff can be left “twiddling their thumbs” and typically treat just one or two patients an hour at Ayr between 12pm and 7am as rubbish. She added: “I suggest that Dr Masterton comes down to Ayr A&E and work with this very efficient team and see how much we twiddle our thumbs. I am saddened by the lack of respect and thought shown to our doctors and nurses by Dr Masterton’s off the cuff remarks.” A PUPIL of Carrick Academy was hit by a vehicle in busy Maybole High Street in a lunchtime accident. Two police cars and an ambulance attended, and the girl was taken to the A&E at Ayr Hospital. Fortunately, she was not seriously hurt and was allowed home after one night. But community leaders in Maybole say last week’s accident illustrates just one of the difficulties faced by emergency crews in South Ayrshire. The High Street in Maybole is a renowned bottleneck on the main A77 route. And even the most skilled ‘blue light’ driver can be brought to a halt there. Maybole Community Council chairman David Kiltie said: “Everyone knows we need a bypass – the traffic’s horrendous and the pavement narrows to just one metre in places. “The High Street can be a real problem for ambulances coming from the south of Maybole. The A&E at Ayr is difficult enough to get to, without adding the extra journey to Crosshouse.” Meeting to rally support A PUBLIC meeting will be held in Ayr next week to rally support for the fight to save A&E. Campaigners are confident that people will turn up in their droves to demand that the health board abandon their plan to close the unit at Ayr. The meeting is being organised by Ayr MSP John Scott and will be chaired by prominent lawyer Graeme McKinstry. Mr Scott said: “Although we are just a matter of days into the three month consultation period over the future of accident and emergency services, the reaction from the public has already been overwhelming. I have heard not only from members of the public worried about the consequences of A&E services being centralised at Crosshouse, but also from a range of local health professionals. They see it as a potentially disastrous plan.” The meeting is open to anyone interested in learning more about the proposal. It will be held in Ayr Town Hall on September 14 at 7.30pm. A&E campaign is gathering pace ALMOST 2000 people pledged their support for a community campaign to save Ayr’s A&E in just one day. MSP Adam Ingram revealed that he was overwhelmed by people anxious to join the fight during a day of campaigning in Ayr High Street on Saturday. He said: “I’ve never experienced such a positive response from the public to any campaign I have been involved with over the last 25 years. The sense of outrage from the public we met on Saturday was almost palpable.” Ayr MP Sandra Osborne also met with health chief George Irving this week to highlight her concerns at the plan. I DOUBT if I would be writing this if it was not for the skill of staff at Ayr A&E who saved my life. I am totally opposed to the suggestion to close this hospital and hope that all political parties and individuals get together to form one united front against this suggestion. By all means open local first aid centres but Ayr Hospital must keep its A & E unit. Ian Douglas 47 Meadowpark, Ayr I WOULD like to warn the people of Ayrshire that they are the most recent victims of what appears to a government policy to centralise health care. In Fife we have been battling since 1999 against similar proposals, resulting in the Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline becoming virtually an out-patient centre. Centralisation proposals have been the cause of much anxiety amongst the people here in Fife. Former Ayrshire resident Sabina Black THE PEOPLE of Ayr don’t seem to have a say in what is happening to Ayr Hospital. It is our hospital. Don’t let the board take it from us. It is time for political parties to unite and back Professor Wilson, John Scott and Adam Ingram. Don Sharp Senior Citizens Unity Party IT IS becoming more apparent by the decisions made in recent years that the board seems not to be concerned with the needs of the people of South Ayrshire. I urge everyone to contact their MPs and MSPs and ask them to help save our A&E. Lorraine Smith Ayr THERE is “no greater risk to blue light patients" says Dr Bob Masterton. Of course there is. If a blue light is required then obviously the patient is acutely unwell. It is better for the patient to receive treatment sooner rather than later. Does Dr Masterton realise how difficult it is to maintain effective CPR for any length of time? I can assure you it’s very hard and you become very tired very quickly. Has he also considered the severity of a patient’s illness? It can sometimes take a good two hours to stabilise a patient. Dr Masterton also says staff see just one or two patients per hour. Ayr is a very busy A&E. Sometimes the waiting time is more than four hours. I think he should give us a public apology. Staff nurse Ayr A&E |
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Carrick Gazette - 8th September 2005 |
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LOCAL MP, Sandra Osborne, has met with Professor George Irving, Chairman of NHS Ayrshire and Arran to raise her concerns about possible removal of provision for acute emergencies. The Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock MP said: “The decision on the future of Hospital Accident and Emergency services in Ayrshire is a vital one for our local community. "There is a clear need for a substantial improvement to the current A&E service in terms of clinical care, which must always be of the utmost importance. The question is how the necessary improvements in service can be achieved. "The location of A&E is undoubtedly the most controversial decision and the public should have the chance to hear the arguments and put forward their views. "I believe that both Ayr and Crosshouse Hospital have a critical role to play in serving the Ayrshire community. I am determined that people should be able to turn up at either hospital in an emergency situation even if, as happens at present, a medical assessment then establishes that their specialist needs are best met by transfer to another facility. "I have previously had assurances from the Health Board that there was no plan to close A&E at Ayr. Certainly the question of proximity to Glasgow should not be the major consideration as both Crosshouse and Ayr Hospital serve the Ayrshire community, not the city region. "The priority for the Health Service should be to meet the needs of the community it serves - not the convenience of consultants." The MP praised the proposal for community based casualty facilities in Girvan and Cumnock and also the possibility of better emergency mental health and cancer services which she said 'are long overdue'. The MP does have concerns that some areas may still be left out under current plans. Sandra said: "I am very concerned that my constituents in the Doon Valley are being left out and would still need to travel to Ayr to access the Community Casualty Facility at Ayr Hospital. This is not bringing services closer to their local community. The same situation applies in the Maybole area. "The Chairman of the Health Board has assured me that no decisions have been made. However, this can only be a genuine open process if the option to keep an Acute Emergency Facility at Ayr Hospital remains in the consultation." Health services will improve says top Doc A TOP Ayrshire health boss says that services will improve but that change is needed. Dr Robert Masterton says that no decisions have been taken to axe A&E services at Ayr Hospital and that the public should have faith in the consultation process. Dr Masterton, Ayrshire and Arran Health Board's executive medical director said: "People can have confidence in the consultation process and no decisions have been taken." He said there are 'consequences' if we do not look at change and that what is proposed is a 'package' of changes and not just the single issue of A&E. The review of services and recommendations covers the provision of assessment units, greater access to specialist doctors and improved provision of planned care. Health bosses have been angered by what they see as the singling out of the future of A&E in the review of services. They have now launched their own public information campaign to provide details of the proposals. According to Dr Masterton, the split of elective and emergency treatment would lead to a better service for the people of Ayrshire and Arran; with the proposed community casualty facilities, including one in Girvan providing support by dealing with minor injuries. Dr Masterton said that dealing with minor injuries closer to home, with shorter waits has to be better than going to A&E. He said: "What is being proposed is an improvement." Dr Masterton said that if these changes occur then transport is to become an issue. Most people are concerned that if they have to be taken for emergency treatment at an A&E at Crosshouse then the extra travelling time could be critical. Dr Masterton pointed out that contrary to reports, the ambulance service say that there is evidence to show that such distances can be travelled safely. "There will be more ambulances, more drivers and more paramedics," assured Dr Masterton. The Health Board also assure that these increased numbers are affordable and that there is money to pay for them. The health bosses say that travelling issues for patients' relatives and families are also a consideration. Factors such as the majority of the population living north of Ayr, the growing number of elderly people in Ayrshire, the provision of direct care from nurses, the desire for flexibility from a modern workforce, delivery of care and the increasing number of patients attending A&E have all to be considered say the Health Board. Any eventual changes to the provision of unscheduled or emergency care will not be made because of funding restrictions according to Dr Masterton. He said: "It's not a financial decision, whatever option is taken will require investment so it is not about saving money. "It's about what gives best value for money and making the best use of money for the NHS. "What we know is that in Ayrshire there is an ever increasing number of elderly people, getting ever older. 'We know we have a smaller number of younger people who are going to form the workforce." The proposed changes which form the basis of the consultation process have been chosen by a group of professionals and lay people, in whose judgement Dr Masterton has faith. Senior clinicians from hospitals and the community, senior strategic and operational managers, members of the public and the 26-strong group of people representing community groups have met over the past six months to consider how the services we are reviewing meet the needs of emergency and unscheduled care patients. These meetings have led to the recommendations on which we are now consulting. The 26-strong group of lay people included representatives from Girvan Attractions and Girvan Community Council. Dr Masterton said that he believes the public meetings will be valuable opportunities for people to ask questions and discuss options. "We want people to have the information about what is being proposed," he said. He also said that he welcomes the opportunity for local politicians to engage in informed debate and discussions wit health professionals and local people. Dr Masterton has said that the consultation process will be 'challenging' but believes it is necessary. He said: "You cannot consult with 380,000 people on the details but you can go out and consult on the outcome of these two groups but the board understands the need for change." He added: "No decision has been taken, the two groups have proposed a package for the best way forward and the Board is out consulting on it." The consultation process will take place over three months with public meetings scheduled across Ayrshire. CAMPAIGNERS opposed to the loss of Ayr Hospital's Accident and Emergency unit are to hold a public meeting to rally support for their case - and they are calling for a big turnout amongst local people to boost the battle against the proposed closure. The meeting, organised by Ayr MSP John Scott, will be held in Ayr Town Hall next Wednesday, September 14 at 7.30 pm, with the proceedings being chaired by local lawyer Graeme McKinstry. John Scott said: "Although we are just a matter of days into the three-month consultation period over the future of Accident and Emergency services, the reaction from the public has already been overwhelming and utterly opposed to the loss of emergency and unscheduled care facilities at Ayr Hospital. "Since the decision by the Health Board on August 24 to consult only on options which would strip Ayr Hospital of its present full Accident and Emergency cover, I have heard not only from members of the public worried about the consequences of A&E services being centralised at Crosshouse, but also from a wide range of local health professionals who are equally concerned at what they see as being a potentially disastrous plan which could put at risk the quality and accessibility of vital emergency services covering the whole of South Ayrshire. "The Health Board's final decision on the future provision of Accident and Emergency services at Ayr Hospital has the potential to affect each and every one of us living in this part of Scotland, and that's why it is so important that as many local people as possible become involved in the campaign to keep this unit in Ayr. "By coming along to the public meeting on September 14, local people can make their voices heard and can support the growing campaign to save Ayr Hospital's Accident and Emergency service."
Public meetings Public meetings will be held to let NHS Ayrshire & Arran know what residents think of plans. Meetings are scheduled for: 26 September - Belmont Academy, Assembly Hall, Ayr 27 September - Doon Academy, Dalmellington 29 September - Town Hall, Maybole 3 October - Cumnock Academy, Assembly Hall, Cumnock 4 October - Largs Academy, Assembly Hall, Largs 5 October - Radio City, Kilbirnie 10 October - Girvan Academy, Lecture Theatre, Girvan 11 October - Ardrossan Academy, Assembly Hall, Ardrossan 13 October - Newmilns Primary School, Newmilns 24 October - Ballantrae Community Centre, Ballantrae 25 October - Grange Academy, Assembly Hall, Kilmarnock 26 October - Magnum Lecture Theatre, Irvine 27 October - Brodick Hall, Arran All meetings will take place from 7pm to 9pm.
1,500 signatures for SNP campaign
However, health bosses still say they are dismayed by the SNP campaign which they claim has been making false claims. In a few short hours some 1,500 people pledged support for a broad based community campaign to stop the Health Board's plan in its tracks. Speaking after his party's street meeting the SNPs Adam Ingram MSP said: "I have never experienced such a positive response from the public to any campaign I have been involved with over the last 25 years, and that includes opposition to the Poll Tax and support for the Scottish Parliament. "The sense of outrage from the members of the public we met on Saturday was almost palpable. It is clear that the Health Board is not only flying in the face of public opinion on this issue but has lost the public's trust in its ability to provide a service the public needs and wants." However, executive medical director with NHS Ayrshire and Arran Dr Robert Masterton has expressed his concern over information leaflets handed out by the SNP. He said: "The campaign leaflet falsely describes NHS Ayrshire and Arran's current consultation exercise as being about 'plans to close Ayr Hospital's A&E Department and centralise these services at Crosshouse. "The current plans that the NHS Board are seeking the public's views upon do involve the centralisation of emergency admissions at Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock. However, Adam Ingram's leaflet fails to describe this fully or that the plans include the creation of Community Casualty Facilities." Dr Masterton said that these units at Ayr, Cumnock, Girvan, Irvine and Crosshouse Hospital would ensure that the majority of the people who presently attend A&E with non life threatening conditions and illnesses will be seen much more quickly. Dr Masterton added: "The leaflet also misleads by presenting only one part of an interlinked set of proposals." Mr Ingram concluded: "The SNP will continue to campaign vigorously on this issue and looks forward to contributing to a campaign which everyone of whatever political persuasion or none can contribute." |
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Ayrshire Post - 5th September 2005 |
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Faster service, more patients: So says health board director MORE people will be treated faster after a shake-up of emergency care, says Dr Bob Masterton. And he insists there will be no extra risk for ‘blue light’ patients going by ambulance to Crosshouse Hospital, instead of Ayr. Dr Masterton, pictured right, Ayrshire and Arran Health Board’s executive medical director, pledged more ambulances and more paramedics under the new set-up. He said the ‘golden hour’ for a patient’s survival chances begins with the ambulance crew. And he claimed: “The golden hour will be better protected under our proposals.” Dr Masterton said it was no longer viable for a consultant-led 24-hour emergency service at both Ayr and Crosshouse. A team of six A&E staff at Ayr will typically see just one or two patients an hour from 12pm to 7am. Dr Masterton said: “It’s not an attractive job for the three A&E consultants we have at Ayr. “It’s a one-in-three rota for night shifts. Staff can be left twiddling their thumbs. “That’s why we want to concentrate critical care on one site, with a rota of five consultants.” This will be supported by five community casualty facilities in Ayrshire — at Cumnock, Girvan and Irvine, as well as Ayr and Crosshouse. These will operate beyond normal hours, seven days a week, for minor injuries and illnesses. And they will have tele-links to the main emergency facility at Crosshouse. A three-month public consultation is about to start, before a final decision is made early next year. COMMUNITY councils across South Ayrshire look set to fight the plan to close Ayr’s accident and emergency unit. They have arranged to hold an emergency meeting next week to organise a joint plan of action. Chairman of the Association of South Ayrshire Community Councils, Archie Monkhouse, said: “I was contacted with representatives from Girvan and Maybole who are rightly concerned by this proposal. “We hope to present a united front and protest very strongly against the closure of emergency services at Ayr Hospital.” The meeting will be held in Girvan on Wednesday, September 7. David Kiltie of Maybole Community Council said: “A proposal to close this hospital facility is too important for us not to have an opinion, especially south of Ayr where there are so many road accidents and a large rural population.” Meanwhile MSPs John Scott and Adam Ingram have joined forces to plan a mass protest. Mr Scott said: “I’ve been overwhelmed by the number of people who have contacted me since this was made public. “People in South Ayrshire are quite rightly outraged. We all need to unite to fight this.” Mr Ingram added: “Politics just don’t come into it on this one. I am hoping for cross party opposition to this. We want to try and unite the community and possibly hold a mass protest.” DEJA VU: We beat ’em last time WE’VE been here before. It was back in January, 1995, when health chiefs last had an axe poised over A&E at Ayr. But a petition of 30,000 signatures — collected in just three weeks — helped save the service. Matt Hogarth from Ayr was the man who organised it. And the retired sales manager was stunned when he heard of the new closure plan. “I couldn’t believe it. It’s a very unwelcome case of déjà vu,” said Matt. “I collected signatures at supermarkets, in the street, from clubs and organisations, and at Ayr Hospital. “With more time I could have collected 100,000 names — if that’s what it took to save the Ayr A&E. “We’re talking about people’s lives here. The service must be maintained. “I’m not fit to go out collecting signatures this time, but I sincerely hope that others will lead a fight to save this vital service.” THE HEALTH board will hold public meetings around Ayrshire over the next three months to discuss the proposals. They will all take place between 7pm and 9pm. Dates and venues are as follows. Belmont Academy, Monday, September 26; Doon Academy, Dalmellington, Tuesday, September 27; Maybole Town Hall, Thursday, September 29; Cumnock Academy, Monday, October 3; Girvan Academy, Monday, October 10; Ballantrae Community Centre, Monday, October 24. A copy of the proposal is available at www.nhsayrshireandarran.com or by writing to Review of Services , FREEPOST, SCO6879, Boswell House, 10 Arthur Street, Ayr KA7 1BR, telephoning free on 0800 169 1441 or emailing reviewofservices@aapct.scot.nhs.uk Don’t do it, pleads ex-hospitals chief FORMER hospital boss Gordon Wilson made a last ditch appeal to the health board NOT to scrap Ayr’s accident and emergency service. But his motion to keep both Ayrshire units open was supported by just one other board member at the highly charged meeting last Wednesday. Professor Wilson, who is the former chairman of Ayrshire’s Acute Hospitals Trust, asked for a second option of providing enhanced services Ayr and Crosshouse hospitals to be included in the consultation exercise. He told the meeting: “The temptation is to give the go ahead. But as a non-executive I do have reservations about some of the things in this paper. “One of my main concerns is the long term implications for Ayr Hospital, which is a special place that large numbers of people of South Ayrshire draw on. “I think that this radical shift demands our very careful consideration. “The issue of shortage of consultants is regrettable as it all seems to be about their availability. I am sure there is some innovate way in which we could solve our staffing problems and we should be further looking at recruiting more consultants. “It is regrettable that this report says right at the start that the enhanced status quo would not be deliverable.” His plan was supported by Drongan councillor Tommy Farrell. He explained: “We’re told it’s easier to recruit for Crosshouse than it is for Ayr. I don’t understand why this is the case. Surely this is more about improving the recruitment process than it is about closing departments. “Accessibility is going to be a serious issue for a lot of people. And if I were to have a heart attack in Drongan I think I’d rather try to get to Ayr on time than arrive too late because of traffic at Crosshouse.” But medical director Dr Bob Masterton insists that recruitment is a problem for more than just consultants. He said: “Consultant recruitment is only part of many other recruitment issues which have also been taken into consideration.”
Back from the dead EILEEN Hamilton died as she was carried into Ayr’s accident and emergency unit. Fortunately for her, a highly trained medical team were by her side within minutes and saved her life. When Eileen eventually came round in the coronary care unit she learned just how close she’d come to dying. The 66-year-old granny said: “I’m lucky to be alive and I know it. My heart stopped as they carried me from an ambulance into the hospital. I didn’t have minutes left to make it anywhere else. My time was just about up.” The retired primary school teacher was at her Maybole home when she experienced chest pains. She recalled: “I phoned the doctor who came straight down. She called an ambulance straight away. The last thing I remember was being stretchered out of the ambulance. “That was it until I opened my eyes in the coronary care unit.” Eileen’s heart problem later forced her to retire from her job as a teacher at Maybole’s Cairn Primary. But she still enjoys life with her two daughters and her three grandchildren. She explained: “If Ayr hadn’t been there then I’d still be in an ambulance en route to Crosshouse when my heart stopped. I wouldn’t be here today. The fact is that I’d be dead. “I wouldn’t have survived the journey. It was made clear to me at the time how lucky I was to have been at the hospital when this happened. It’s not something I’m ever going to forget.” Eileen is determined to do all she can to fight for the future of accident and emergency services at Ayr. She said: “This is a vital service and It’s madness to even consider closing it. It’s great that the health board are considering opening community hospitals and improving the service at Crosshouse. But what about people like me? What happens then? Do we just die? “With the best will in the world paramedics can’t do everything. If they could then we wouldn’t need doctors. Having extra ambulances and nurses isn’t the answer. We need a proper accident and emergency service in Ayr and that’s all there is to it.” Ask the doctor A BRAND new accident and emergency unit at Crosshouse is a fantastic idea. Smaller casualty units in Ayr, Girvan and Cumnock are great too. Thanks Dr Masterton. No one can possibly deny these facilities will offer a great service and be staffed by a dedicated and skilled team. Those unfortunate enough to need the service can expect great things. But what about the thousands of people who live in South Ayrshire’s rural communities? Can Dr Masterton guarantee that accident victims or heart attack patients will be able to make it to the new unit before time runs out? How can he be sure an ambulance won’t get stuck behind ferry traffic on the single lane south stretch of the A77? Since the introduction of the new SPECS cameras on the road, lorries regularly drive in convoy at the maximum 40mph. Even the most experienced driver with sirens blaring can’t overtake safely in these conditions. And when the ambulance hits a gridlocked Whitletts roundabout, what then? Build a by-pass linking Girvan with Kilmarnock and we’ll be delighted. Lay on a fleet of air ambulances to ferry patients to Crosshouse and we’ll applaud. Surely access to this new super service is paramount to this proposal? As it stands for most of the population around Ayr access is a major problem. We need answers to these questions. We deserve to know that we in the south will receive the same level of service as our neighbours in the north and east of Ayrshire. A consultation exercise is, rightly so, about to begin. The health board insist that people should have their say. Many of them will be studying this feature. It should help them make their minds up. Over to you the readers of the Ayrshire Post. |
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Ayrshire Post - 26th August 2005 |
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Shock closure of Ayr unit part of hospitals strategy AYR’S accident and emergency unit has been earmarked for closure. Health chiefs were this week set to rubber stamp a plan to move the service to Crosshouse Hospital. The decision has prompted an angry response from Ayr MSP John Scott, who insists he’ll fight it every step of the way. He said: “I’m bitterly disappointed by this news. This service should be non-negotiable and maintained at all costs. I expect public opposition to this proposal to be huge.” The plan will now go out to public consultation within the next few weeks and will be finished by early December. But Mr Scott claims that he has no faith in the process. He added: “We’ve heard this before. The last time when the closure of the paediatric unit at Ayr was proposed it was meaningless. “The public mood was clear and the authorities chose to ignore it. “I have absolutely no faith in the consultation process.” Ayrshire and Arran Health Board propose centralising accident and emergency services at Crosshouse, supported by a 24 hour assessment unit and an all emergency inpatient facility. Dedicated emergency surgery and trauma theatres will also be set up. A community casualty facility, with extended hours, will be available at Ayr to deal with minor injuries but all emergency cases will be directed to Crosshouse. Additional minor injury units will be opened at the Davidson Hospital in Girvan and East Ayrshire Community Hospital in Cumnock. Mr Scott explained: “It’s long been suspected that the health board want to close accident and emergency at Ayr but they’ve always denied it. “Now it seems that our worst fears have been realised. All we can do now is stand up and be counted and do all we can to convince the authorities not to go ahead with this proposal.” His views were echoed by chairman of Girvan Community Council, Alex Clark, who fears lives could be put at risk. He said: “This is something we’ve long feared. “And it could literally mean the difference between life and death. “There’s a huge rural area that is clearly best served by an accident and emergency facility in Ayr. “Remember, we’re not just talking about accidents, but medical emergencies too — chest pains, strokes, diabetic comas and the like. “The health board will be dicing with people’s lives if they proceed with this plan.” He added: “If they have no conscience about doing this, then I would suggest they are the wrong people to be running our health service.” Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley MSP Cathy Jamieson insists that the board will have to meet tough standards before she’s satisfied. She said: “My priority is to ensure that my constituents have the highest quality of health care and that services are accessible, particularly to those in rural communities. Any proposal by the board would have to meet these criteria before I would be satisfied.” |
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Ayr Advertiser - 1st September 2005 |
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KIDS’ LIVES WILL BE ON THE LINE Mum claims son would have died KIDS will die if health board bosses press ahead with plans to close Ayr Casualty. This was the warning from parents and campaigners this week furious at plans to axe emergency treatment at Ayr Hospital. One mum said her son would not be alive today if he had been forced to make the trip to Crosshouse after contracting meningitis. Linda Fergusson, 35, of Maybole told the Advertiser: "By the time we rushed Lee to Ayr he was lifeless and all his veins had shut down. It was terrifying. "There is no doubt in my mind that if we had had to get to Kilmarnock he would have been dead by the time we got there. He would not be here today." The case of Lee, who is three today but was 11-months-old at the time of the scare, was raised by grandfather John Fergusson during last year's public meetings to decide the fate of the kids ward at Ayr Hospital. John, 59, who owns Croyburnfoot Caravan Park at Croy, claims: "I told the health board managers that my grandson's life had been saved by being treated at Ayr and they put our minds at rest by saying casualty doctors would still be there to treat patients whose lives were at risk. We feel they have made a promise which has now been broken." Campaigners have already unveiled plans for a major protest march in Ayr against the proposed closure. They will also take a petition around every town and village in the local area in a bid to halt the move. A member of the campaign group said: "With the number of serious road accidents on the A77 it beggars belief that our health authority should be contemplating a move which would force critically hurt patients to travel a further 30 minutes for lifesaving treatment. "This will affect outlying communities even harder and we will be taking a petition out to these places to allow the voices of local people to be heard. "We also want everyone who is against the plans to write to the health board, as that is very important." Campaigners have made it clear they will be calling on the Executive to intervene and sack the current board. Ayr dad Bernard Smith, who is leading the protest, said: "The Board took this decision knowing it will cause deaths. They have forgotten they are there to serve us and enough is enough. It's time for them to go." HALF HOUR A “DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH” An ambulance source said: "The minimum journey time for a 40 mile trip in an ambulance would be 30 minutes. Depending on the conditions of the roads, it could double on a busy day. "In some cases, where someone's injured, if you're needing an hour's journey time to hospital, they're dead. You need to be quite close to get a fighting chance. Without a doubt, it means that anyone that's got a bad trauma will probably die from their injuries." “Carrick will lose out despite Girvan Hospital plans” THE REACTION has been swift from politicians following last week's announcement. According to one local councillor, Girvan and Carrick would be the real losers if proposals to close Ayr's Accident and Emergency unit go ahead. Ian Fitzsimmons: "While I would certainly welcome the creation of a community casualty facility at the new Davidson Hospital, which would treat local people with minor injuries here in Girvan, I am extremely concerned at the proposal to effectively close the Accident and Emergency Unit at Ayr Hospital. "For more remote towns like Girvan and for the whole of rural Carrick, quick and direct access to Accident and Emergency facilities is a vital consideration and to leave local people who need urgent specialist medical attention having to travel some 40 miles to Crosshouse Hospital is just not on." He added: "I think there will be a huge outcry amongst Girvan people and the residents of Carrick as a whole against the proposal." List MSP Adam Ingram said he encountered a 'massive' swell of opinion on the streets of Ayr on Saturday and predicted a huge protest across the political spectrum. He said: "It is clear the decision is a fait accompli and that the consultation is a sham, since there is nothing on the table keeping Accident and Emergency at Ayr, which is unbelievable. "A community committee must be set up to set up our own consultation and have these proposals taken back off the table." John Scott MSP added: "I have encountered a unanimous sense of anger at the proposed loss of our A&E facility and I have made the Health Board aware that I will be fighting against a consultation process which I believe is flawed. The 15,000 people who would be affected by this closure are entitled to the Rolls Royce service they have been getting and any reduction is simply unacceptable." Central Ayrshire MP Brian Donohoe said the proposals will have implications for the 'whole of Ayrshire' and urged concerned constituents to write to him and his parliamentary colleagues about the plans. AYRSHIRE'S Medical Director has assured the public that the recommended changes are 'not about reducing the quality of care'. Dr Robert Masterton said: "It's about increasing the quality of care. It's about producing a sustainable, improved health system for the people of Ayrshire. It's not a single issue about A&E. "We can give our absolute confidence that we are not seeing the proposals as putting anyone's life at risk. "The plans are about getting people treated for illnesses and injuries closer to home. For half the people that come, with sprains or dog bites, they would continue to go to Ayr. "Road traffic accident victims would go to Crosshouse. We are absolutely certain that those groups of patients who are very important can be taken to Crosshouse safely. “That's the view of the professionals and ambulance service. "It will allow people who suffer from heart attacks greater access to specialists, because you have less specialists in Ayr Hospital." He added that the wait in A&E would be significantly shorter because that group of highly skilled, trained staff would be able to concentrate on serious cases. |
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Carrick Gazette - 5th September 2005 |
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Pull together! Call for unity as fight for A&E unity begins THE BATTLE to save Ayr Hospital's Accident and Emergency Unit is underway. A rallying cry for Community Councils to act as one has been made while politicians have made a plea for an all party action to fight the possible closure. An emergency meeting of Community Council representatives from all over South Ayrshire will be held in Girvan next Wednesday to develop a collective strategy to address the proposals. The Community Councils will be urging the residents of their towns and villages to turn out in numbers to the proposed public meetings called by NHS Ayrshire & Arran this month and next. The Chairmen of both Maybole and Girvan Community Councils have urged locals to attend the public meetings in Carrick. MSP Adam Ingram has called on Cathy Jamieson to lead an all party campaign to fight any possible closure. Mr Ingram has also accused the NHS Ayrshire & Arran Health Board of already having decided the fate of the A&E at Ayr Hospital, saying they will refuse to consider enhancing the facility even if that is the public's preferred option. While MSP Phil Gallie has said that NHS Ayrshire & Arran could lead the way and bring sense to a 'ridiculous' national situation by maintaining A&E services at Ayr Hospital. Chairman of Maybole Community Council David Kiltie said that the proposed closure of the A&E unit at Ayr Hospital will be on the agenda their meeting next Tuesday. He also confirmed that he will be attending the emergency meeting of representatives from all South Ayrshire community councils in Girvan to discuss a joint approach next Wednesday. The meeting will also be attended by Chairman of Girvan Community Council and vice-chair of the Association of South Ayrshire Community Councils Alec Clark. Mr Kiltie said: "Already some people are cynical that the Health Board has made up its mind and is conducting a sham of consultation. "That may be the case but if we don¹t show that we have an opinion on the proposal then the Health Board may be entitled to assume that we agree with them. "A proposal to close the A&E unit is too important for us not to have an opinion, especially south of Ayr where there are numerous road accidents as well as a large rural area. "We must make our thoughts known and I would again urge everyone to attend the meeting. We may not all get in but at least the Health Board will know the depth of feeling." Mr Clark said: "There will be a consultation process but whether or not it is a white elephant or not people must be heard. "It is vital that if the people in Girvan don't want to see the A&E close then they need to make their voices heard; they need to attend the public meetings and attend in numbers." Mr Clark also slammed Ayrshire and Arran Health Board for putting cost efficiency before access to services, public health and community safety. "They are a body whose main concern is cost efficiency and centralisation," said Mr Clark. The reality could be the difference between life and death according to Mr Clark. He continued: "Who will be there when someone dies after a heart attack to say sorry because the death was caused by an extra 20 mile journey?" Mr Clark was also concerned about the impact the move would have on the smaller rural villages and areas which are less accessible due to poor roads. Mr Clark added: "The only scenario to accept this is if there was a full A&E unit at the new community hospital proposed for Girvan to serve Carrick." Current proposals include the creation of community casualty units at Davidson Hospital, Girvan; East Ayrshire Community Hospital, Cumnock; and Ayrshire Central Hospital, Irvine. Girvan Councillor Ian Fitzsimmons has voiced his opposition to the plans. He said: "While I would certainly welcome the creation of a community casualty facility at the new Davidson Hospital, which could treat local people with minor injuries here in Girvan, I am however extremely concerned at the proposal to effectively close the Accident and Emergency Unit at Ayr Hospital. "For more remote towns like Girvan and for the whole of rural Carrick, quick and direct access to Accident and Emergency facilities is a vital consideration, and to leave local people who need urgent specialist medical attention having to travel some 40 miles to Crosshouse Hospital, outside Kilmarnock, is just not on. "I think there will be a huge outcry amongst Girvan people and the residents of Carrick as a whole against the proposal to close Ayr Hospital's Accident and Emergency unit, and I will definitely be doing all that I can to support the campaign against this closure." Adam Ingram spoke out after meeting with the Health Board on Friday to hear the rationale behind their decision to concentrate accident and emergency services at Crosshouse Hospital. Mr Ingram said: "At the meeting the Board chairman, Professor George Irving, made it clear that improving the service by enhancing the A&E facility at Ayr Hospital was not an option that the Board would consider even if that were the public's preferred option. "Indeed he made it plain that the consultation was not a referendum ex that might be affected by those views was whether or not a 24 hour assessment centre for accident and emergency cases would be set up at Ayr Hospital as an add on to the full range of services planned for Crosshouse. "I find this 'we know what's best for you' like it or lump it attitude' to be totally unacceptable. "Given this approach from the Board I am drawn to the conclusion that their planned public consultation is a sham exercise with the final decision on closing Ayr Hospital A&E department being a fait accompli, much as was their decision to close the Paediatric unit. "That being so it is vital that the local community mobilises a campaign on such a scale to demonstrate that the local public have no confidence in the Health Board and its proposals and to demand that new proposals be brought forward which address the needs and wishes of the public and users of the NHS rather than its managers. "I am confident that such a campaign bringing together people of all political persuasions and can be achieved. "I would urge Cathy Jamieson to take her Ministerial hat off and provide the leadership at grass roots level that her constituents will expect." Girvan Community Council also say that a cross party campaign should take place. Chairman Alec Clark said: "We should expect the support of all our politicians as this will have to go before the Scottish Parliament and a lot of people will be listening to the words of the Health Minister." Cathy Jamieson MSP said: "I want to see a local health service which meets the needs of all of my constituents, particularly of those living in rural areas. My priority is to ensure that health services properly serve the local communities where my constituents live. "This consultation provides an opportunity for every constituent to make their views known. I would hope that constituents will take the chance to attend one of the planned public meetings and by registering their views as part of the formal consultation." "After months of high powered discussion on the way forward for Health Services in Ayrshire contraction of services is yet again seen as the way forward," said South of Scotland MSP Phil Gallie. Phil has warned consistently of what he believed was the intention to downgrade Ayr Hospital once again, unfortunately his warnings are now seen to be well founded. He said: "This has been the path taken by the new single tier NHS Ayrshire and Arran since its inception. "The closure of the Children's Ward at Ayr Hospital was a precedent for things to come. Consultation after consultation, but the inevitable closure was achieved against the public will. Now it is the A&E Unit at Ay Hospital. "With the demise of the local Trusts there is no local defence mechanism. NHS Ayrshire and Arran appears simply to toe the centrally imposed Scottish Executive line. We will be told there are not enough doctors or consultants to go around. "This year, though, we discovered that hundreds of young doctors cannot find promoted posts in our hospitals that would allow for ample provision of experts in the future. "NHS Ayrshire and Arran could lead the way and bring sense to this ridiculous situation. They and other Boards should be providing promoted posts with a view to achieving the greater number of consultants ultimately required. If they close the A&E at Ayr yet another opportunity to train and prepare for the future will be lost." Wai-yin Hatton, Chief Executive NHS Ayrshire & Arran, said the consultation aims to enhance the level and range of services for unscheduled and emergency care for all communities across NHS Ayrshire & Arran. She said: "This is not about cutting costs, but about enhancing initial assessment and diagnosis of patients, and ensuring that clinical and specialist care are provided by the most appropriate practitioners. “The creation of community casualty units, along with 24-hour assessment units at Crosshouse and Ayr, would also give us the opportunity to provide alternatives to emergency admission, where this is appropriate.” She added: “Finally, the separation of planned and emergency care - which is in line with national recommendations - will lead to shorter waiting times for people awaiting planned procedures, as these operations will not be disrupted by unforeseen emergency admissions.” PUBLIC meetings will allow locals to let NHS Ayrshire & Arran know what they think about proposals for local health services. 26 September - Belmont Academy, Assembly Hall, Ayr 27 September - Doon Academy, Dalmellington 29 September - Town Hall, Maybole 3 October - Cumnock Academy, Assembly Hall, Cumnock 4 October - Largs Academy, Assembly Hall, Largs 5 October - Radio City, Kilbirnie 10 October - Girvan Academy, Lecture Theatre, Girvan 11 October - Ardrossan Academy, Assembly Hall, Ardrossan 13 October - Newmilns Primary School, Newmilns 24 October - Ballantrae Community Centre, Ballantrae 25 October - Grange Academy, Assembly Hall, Kilmarnock 26 October - Magnum Lecture Theatre, Irvine 27 October - Brodick Hall, Arran All meetings will take place from 7pm to 9pm. Twelve months – an eternity in politics? THEY say a week is a long time in politics so a year must be an eternity. However, it was only 12 short months ago that then Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm denied that services at Ayr Hospital were under threat. Talking to the Gazette at the opening of the new Accident and Emergency department at Crosshouse last September Mr Chisholm refuted any suggestions that plans were in place to alter A&E services at Ayr. The Minister for Health and Community Care said: "There are no proposals in place to downgrade A&E services at Ayr Hospital." The Health Minister, who came under increasing pressure over Executive policies was backed by Professor George Irving, Chair of Ayrshire and Arran Health Board. Professor Irving commented at the time: "The opening of the facility at Crosshouse is not at the expense of Ayr." |
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