SSP Research, Policy & Media Unit
Press Release: 05/11/05
Carolyn Leckie, Scottish Socialist Party MSP for Central Scotland and health spokesperson, today said there were many unanswered questions about the plans to centralise acute services that NHS Lanarkshire are currently putting out to public consultation.
Carolyn said today;
“Whilst welcoming NHS Lanarkshire’s more proactive approach to consultations, there are many unanswered questions about the impact of the proposals on access to services and the quality of care.
“It is surely not coincidental that the most likely option is for one hospital providing elective care with two emergency and trauma centres when we have three hospital PFI’s with 30 years to go on the contracts in the region.
“The inevitable conclusion is that the pressures of PFI contracts will determine how health services are delivered in the region.
“Initiatives like the geographic separation of elective and emergency services are unproven with early evidence from England suggests that stand alone elective services suffer from a reduction in the skills base and educational services, reducing the ability to deal with unexpected situations.
“I would hope that NHS Lanarkshire will be more sensible than Andy Kerr and Professor David Kerr and steer well clear of any of the crazy privatisation initiatives such as LIFT’s, private diagnostic treatment centre’s or the importation of whole health care teams from private organisations abroad.
“I am looking forward to participating in NHS Lanarkshire’s consultation and encourage everyone in Lanarkshire to make their views heard.”
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