General Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at on 31 October 2024.
To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and what issues were discussed. (S6O-03871)
Ministers and Scottish Government officials meet regularly with representatives of all health boards, including NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, to discuss matters of importance to patients and the services that are provided.
This week, Unison reps at the Royal Alexandra hospital came to me with serious concerns about the possible closure of ward 36, which has 22 beds for older people with complex needs. There appears to be no thought-through plan for the ward, staff or the patients. One thousand signatures have already been gathered in a petition opposing the move, which one can only assume is a result of budget cuts.
Has the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care been made aware of the proposal to close that ward and cut 22 beds from the RAH? Does he agree that the move should not go ahead, given the concerns that have been raised by the national health service staff who work there?
Given the statement yesterday by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which not only increases bed numbers in England but gives the Scottish Government an extra £3.4 billion, will the cabinet secretary ensure that resources are made available to the health board to protect those vital local services?
I thank Neil Bibby for raising that point. To answer his question directly, I note that that proposal has not been brought to me. It is obviously a local decision to be taken. I respect the local proposals and the local decision making regarding them, but I also respect the issue that Mr Bibby has raised with me on the concerns that have been raised by staff and by the trade union. I would expect NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, if it is taking forward such a proposal, to be consulting on that. There are clear consultation pathways and the Government has clear expectations of boards when they look at service redesign. I do not have the full picture because this is the first that I have heard of it, but I will look into the matter further and make sure that I contact Mr Bibby and other local representatives on it.