GREATER Glasgow Health Board have published their response to their consultation document. They received over 3000 responses. However, this in no way has altered their preferred option: the Victoria will be demolished, Mansion House sold and Cowglen sold. The Vic will be replaced by an Acad and all in-patient care will be delivered at the Southern General.
We are astonished that they have not listened to the voice of the people, and have created a democratic deficit of unprecedented proportions.
Their continued support of a stand-alone Acad, an American patient service innovation, in the face of medical concern is incredible. Consulting the USA on methods of hospital care is hardly inspiring. The USA is not world-renowned for its care of patients who cannot afford private hospital insurance. Hardly a sympathetic or understanding expert on NHS provision.
The Health Forum Southeast held a meeting in the City Chambers and invited MPs, MSPs, city councillors, and East Renfrewshire councillors to come and listen to the views of medical consultants and GPs, representing all five hospitals in Glasgow. Forty-one consultants attended, many of them representing their medical committees. They expressed grave concern with a stand-alone Acad, and they gave overwhelming support for a new centrally located hospital for the South Side combined with two acute hospitals on the North Side.
Although the board received over 3000 responses to their consultation they have completely ignored the wishes of the people. They did not print our submission in their document, only the traffic report. Nor did they publish our System Three poll report which examined 13 points in the south from Govan to Rutherglen, which showed an overwhelming support for a new centrally located hospital for the South Side. Even more important, they did not print the submission of our all-party MSPs which was a very well constructed and balanced submission.
In their final consultation GGHB are urging anyone who has any new insights or observations to make to get them to GGHB by December 8. To quote from Mr Spry's letter: ''We think what is on offer is the most ambitious health deal Greater Glasgow has had since 1948''.
Do you agree?
Margaret Hinds,
Chairman, Health Forum Southeast,
7 Meadowhill, Glasgow. October 1.
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