Future of Inverclyde GP out of hours service decided

Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board will today be asked to push through controverisal proposals to permanently cut face-to-face access - despite overwhelming public support for it to be retained.

If slashed, Inverclyde patients will face a 50-mile round-trip to Paisley when surgeries are closed, apart from limited hours at the weekend.

Nearly 80 per cent of those taking part in a public consultation in Inverclyde opposed the closure proposal.

Inverclyde Royal would be the only site in Greater Glasgow and Clyde not to have a full seven days a week GP out of hours service.

A total of 6,000 people signed a petition against the cuts when the service was initially suspended in 2020.

The Telegraph revealed last year that bosses had set their face against reinstating the service.

Inverclyde MP Ronnie Cowan has now joined his own SNP councillors and Labour to publicly oppose the  closure plans.

But MSP Stuart McMillan defended  the health board and instead accused Labour politicians of 'misinformation'.

Mr Cowan said: "Although this is a devolved issue I have spoken to Greater Glasgow & Clyde NHS to voice serious concerns.

"The health board must reconsider its plans and we must see an out-of-hours GP service here in Inverclyde that is on the same level as the Vale of Leven.

"I support the SNP councillors who are opposing this [closure].

"Greater Glasgow & Clyde must recognise and acknowledge the strong opposition to these proposals, and come up with a plan which reinstates evening and out-of-hours GP services in Inverclyde."

Asked about the crunch decision, MSP Mr McMillan said: "In contrast to what has been reported, assuming the board decides to implement these proposals, this will see Inverclyde’s in-person GPOOH service actually extended to cover weekends during the day and public holidays.

"For comparison, the current model only provides in-person appointments at the IRH on Saturday mornings and public holidays.

“I would want a service that has full local provision but what has been proposed by the health board is an improvement to what we have currently.

"I have been calling for the health board to extend the existing hours to cover more of the weekend and this is to be delivered."

Mr McMillan went on to use data provided by Greater Glasgow and Clyde to support its plans not to reinstate a full service, including the small numbers using Inverclyde GP out-of-hours overnight.

He accused Labour politicians of spreading misinformation, and that there is a GP out-of-hours service available on the telephone or in Paisley.

But MSP Paul O'Kane, who had previously slammed Mr Cowan for failing to take the health board to task, accused both of letting Inverclyde down.

Mr O'Kane said: "Ronnie Cowan and Stuart McMillan are gaslighting the people of Inverclyde.

“For four years, the community has campaigned against these changes with no support from their SNP MP and MSP.

“In fact, until last week Ronnie Cowan has never raised concerns about out of hours with the health board – that is a complete dereliction of duty.

“Stuart McMillan also seems to call into question the views of people across Inverclyde who have resoundingly rejected this proposal by the health board. It is an insult.

“The truth is that Inverclyde will be the only part of the health board region where people will be asked to make a round trip of up to 50 miles if they need to see an out of hours GP overnight or during the week – this is completely unacceptable.

“Mr McMillan wants people in Inverclyde to accept a second-class service that no other part of the health board region is being asked to accept.

“At the briefing on Friday, we also heard that one of the reasons this decision is being made is because of NHS funding cuts by the SNP Government, and a lack of doctors.

“Labour – and Councillor Martin McCluskey - have consistently questioned these plans since 2020 and will continue to oppose cuts to NHS services in Inverclyde.”