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A&E services retained
27/02/2008
Local communities who use both Ayr and Monklands Hospitals will benefit from existing and enhanced accident and emergency services, it was announced today.
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Nicola Sturgeon told MSPs that both Ayrshire and Lanarkshire Health Boards had submitted unanimously agreed proposals to retain and enhance their A&E Departments. The move follows the final Independent Scrutiny Panel (ISP) reports.
Ms Sturgeon advised Parliament in June 2007 that the Scottish Government was reversing the previous Administration's decision to close A&E Departments at Ayr and Monklands Hospitals. Following that decision an ISP chaired by Andrew Walker was set up and reported in January this year.
Ms Sturgeon said:
"I have great pleasure in announcing today that I am approving the two Boards' proposals. These are proposals which have taken full account of the reports of the ISP, and will ensure not only the maintenance, but also the further development, of the valued A&E services delivered from Ayr and Monklands Hospitals.
"We have been consistent in our belief that the original decision to close these A&E services was wrong. That view was endorsed by the ISP.
"The Boards' A&E proposals have recognised the potential to build on the strengths of the current services. That means no cutbacks in the A&Es or their support services. Instead the Boards are planning beneficial enhancements to services.
"An example is on-site consultant cover at Ayr's A&E unit will be extended from 8 hours a day to 12 hours a day, seven days a week. Lanarkshire have also confirmed there will be no cuts to their current high-performing A&E services at Monklands, and they are also planning to establish an Emergency Response Centre that will speed patients' access to the right emergency care."
The Independent Scrutiny Panel, chaired by Dr Andrew Walker, began in September 2007 and included formal submissions, rigorous scrutiny, interim reports, option appraisal exercises and public engagement. Final reports were published in early January.
The ISP found that neither Board had made the case to significantly change the current services; and recognised that there was an opportunity to build on and develop the very high quality existing A&E provision at Monklands and Ayr, in the best interests of local people.