Scotland’s hospitals- the way ahead

 A successful conference on the increasing trend of closures of local hospitals and centralisation of services was held on 6 December in Strathclyde University. It was organised by Socialist Health Association Scotland, Scottish Left Review, Public Interest Research Network, Strathclyde’s Geography and Sociology Department and UNISON Scotland

 Interestingly, none of the medical colleges and organisations in favour of centralisation was able or willing to send speakers. 

The overwhelming view of the politicians, health professionals, campaigners and members of the public attending the conference was that centralisation is driven by financial constraints, short term staffing problems and the convenience of consultants. Detailed sources were given that for the majority of common medical and surgical conditions, there is no statistical evidence of poorer clinical outcomes for patients in small compared with large hospitals. 

Here are a few quotes from speakers and audience: 

Dr Matthew Dunnigan

“Between 1990-1991 and 2002-2003 Scotland’s hospitals lost 22% of their adult acute beds and 41% of their geriatric beds.” 

Jackie Baillie MSP (Labour)

“My constituents in Dumbarton have to pass 3 hospitals in Glasgow to travel to Paisley Royal Alexandra Hospital. Argyle and Clyde health board is divided by a river estuary. The configuration of health boards has to be re-examined. Centralisation appears to be about the convenience of consultants, and not patients and their families”. 

Audience member

“Paisley Royal Alexandra Hospital and Glasgow’s Southern General Hospital are only 6 miles apart, centralising hospitals so close is mad”. 

Dr Eleanor Scott MSP (Greens)

“Experience in the Highlands has shown that with modern technology general surgeons can provide safe care”.

 Caroline Leckie MSP (SSP)

“Lanarkshire has three district general hospitals. There is evidence the Health Board would prefer two. Hairmyres and Wishaw have been built and run by PFI, and can’t be closed without a financial scandal. That leaves Monklands, however that is in the English Health Secretary, John Reid’s constituency – don’t expect to hear anything before the next general election!” 

Dr Jean Turner MSP (Independant)

“The planned closure of Stobhill Hospital is the wasteful destruction of a valuable asset, our NHS needs more, not less resources.” 

Shona Robison MSP (SNP)

“Successive governments have provided little or no vision for the health service in Scotland. Difficult decisions have been left to unelected, unaccountable health boards which consistently ignore the views of local people” 

Pat Lally, Glasgow South Health Campaign

“There is a lack of logic about centralisation. The medical colleges argue about the current scarcity of health professionals, but we are told this is being tackled and planning must be based on future needs not short termism” 

Harry Proudfoot, Ambulanceperson

“Politicians and health boards have known about the European Working Time Directive and its implications for more than ten years and done nothing and are now using it as an excuse for closures and reducing services.”

Isobel Lindsay, audience member

“There must be an urgent investigation into why despite substantial increased funding output in the NHS in Scotland has declined.” 

Dr Mathew Dunnigan

“The centralisation agenda being pursued by health boards with the approval of the Scottish Executive Health Department is not part of the Department of Health’s modernisation agenda in England, for both pragmatic and electoral reasons. The contrast with the Scottish agenda which has lead to the present crisis of confidence in the management of the Scottish NHS is striking.”