PERTH AND Kinross Council has been asked to back a campaign to save the emergency surgery unit at Perth Royal Infirmary.
Liz Smith, Scottish Conservative MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, has written to Councillor Ian Miller, leader of Perth and Kinross Council, having previously raised the issue with First Minister Alex Salmond at the Scottish Parliament.
Mr Miller confirmed that he has received the letter and has now raised the issue with council chief executive Bernadette Malone, who is to set up a meeting with NHS Tayside chief executive Gerry Marr to discuss the situation.
The matter was brought to light by The Courier when it was found that NHS Tayside aims to change the Friday emergency service at PRI. Patients would be transferred to Ninewells Hospital, in Dundee, as a result.
PRI will keep 24-hour surgical cover, but the changes could lead to hundreds of patients being forced to travel for healthcare.
NHS Tayside intends to create a specialist surgical unit in Perth, taking in patients from the whole of Tayside, while it aims to have Ninewells Hospital dealing with more emergencies.
The health authority has said that there are only five admissions per day to PRI’s surgical receiving unit on average, with only one requiring surgery.
There has been a long-term campaign to retain emergency admissions at PRI.
Yesterday, Ms Smith said that she hopes all politicians will oppose any proposed cuts to emergency services at PRI.
“I hope that the message from all elected politicians in Perthshire will be a united one: that NHS Tayside needs to think again and that they withdraw their plans to cut the emergency surgery unit at Perth Royal Infirmary,” she commented.
“I am becoming increasing concerned that NHS Tayside and the SNP Scottish Government are not looking at the needs of residents across Perth and Kinross and looking to the future population projections when allocating resources and designing health services.”
Ms Smith said that Scottish Conservatives believe that NHS Tayside’s proposals to shut the emergency surgery unit at PRI are “deeply flawed and illogical”.
“The population in Perth and Kinross has increased by 7% since 2001 and projections show the population is set to increase by 27% in the period up to 2033, so on what basis is the downgrade of the emergency surgery unit taking place?” she asked.
“I am still strongly of the opinion that NHS Tayside have not taken into account the population changes which are occurring in Tayside, and that if they are they would not be seeking to downgrade services at Perth Royal Infirmary.”
The Conservative politician said she feels it is “vital” that NHS Tayside takes into account the views of local people and future health priorities and that any major service changes are always based on improving clinical outcomes.
She added that she had written to Mr Miller to ask for Perth and Kinross Council to make representations to NHS Tayside to oppose the loss of emergency surgery at PRI.
Mr Miller said he has asked Ms Malone to set up an early meeting with the NHS Tayside’s chief executive to “specifically discuss” the situation at PRI.
“The purpose of that meeting would be to receive a clear explanation from NHS Tayside about the future of services at PRI,” he commented.
NHS Tayside associate medical director Dr John Colvin previously said: “The safety and quality of patient care is NHS Tayside’s priority and we constantly review and evaluate our services to ensure the best possible care and outcomes for the people of Tayside.
“The overall commitment that NHS Tayside is making is that we will provide quality, sustainable, safe surgical services for the people of Tayside.
“In PRI, that commitment means we want to build a vibrant, high-quality, sustainable, safe surgical unit.
“Our ambition is that regional surgical units for specialist surgeries will be developed at PRI and there will be more surgery carried out there.
“Patients should also be assured that the service at PRI has, and will continue to have, 24-hour consultant surgical cover,” he added.
preoch@thecourier.co.uk