The possibility of upgrading Glenrothes Hospital is to be investigated before the fate of the town’s out-of-hours GP service is decided.
NHS Fife has finally agreed to look into the costs involved in addressing security and safety concerns ahead of a final decision on the service’s future in August.
However, doctors and nurses who work at the hospital will not be consulted, amid claims they have a vested interest in retaining the service.
The board was heavily criticised last month when it emerged upgrading the hospital was not included on a list of options for out-of-hours care.
It wants to move the service to Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, saying it makes clinical sense to have it next to other facilities, such as accident and emergency.
This is one of a number of options being considered for the site, along with transferring the service to Kirkcaldy overnight and at weekends only, creating a minor injuries unit in Glenrothes and maintaining the status quo.
MP Lindsay Roy, who along with MSP Tricia Marwick, has spearheaded a campaign to retain the service, praised NHS Fife’s new chairman, Allan Burns, for his “prompt intervention” in the matter. He said Mr Burns had quickly realised more work needed to be done on the options appraisal process.
“Having raised concerns about the consultation and options appraisal exercise that was carried out, I met with Mr Burns and NHS Fife chief executive John Wilson,” Mr Roy said.
“I appreciate their speed of response, their candour and their acknowledgement that there were still areas that needed to be explored, in particular the option of upgrading Glenrothes to address patient/staff security and safety concerns and the costs involved.
“I am glad that work is now under way on this, although I am disappointed that those involved in the appraisal workshop did not have the opportunity to consider the details of this option.
“Mr Burns has now asked for this work to be costed and the information made available and I have an assurance that the details of the cost of upgrading will be included in the decision-making process.
“I also urged that the doctors and nurses currently involved in the out-of-hours GP service in Glenrothes should be consulted, as they have direct experience of how it operates. Apparently, this has been rejected as it is considered that they might have a vested interest in retaining the current model.
“However, there are lots of vested interests involved in considering the best option for the out-of-hours service based at Glenrothes Hospital.”
Mr Roy added: “I commend Allan Burns for his prompt intervention and the actions he has taken to address shortcomings in the process regarding the option appraisal process.
“He has given a full assurance that all this additional information will be weighed up by the NHS Fife board prior to a decision on the future of the out-of-hours GP service at Glenrothes Hospital being made and I welcome this.”
NHS Fife has repeatedly denied a decision has already been taken to close the hospital, which serves a population of 60,000 people in the town as well as in Levenmouth and the Howe of Fife. It says views are still being gathered and comments can be left on its website.
However, campaigners are sceptical and claim closure is a “fait accompli”.