GREATER Glasgow and Clyde Health Board has taken the decision to permanently cut Inverclyde's GP out of hours service despite overwhelming opposition locally.

Inverclyde's representative on the board Councillor Martin McCluskey spoke out against the proposals at the crucial meeting today and was backed by four others on the board.

But their calls for the proposals to be taken off the table were rejected by other voting members - including two who sit on the Inverclyde Integrated Joint Board.

The decision - which has been branded 'scandalous' - came despite a public consultation showing that 80 per cent of respondents opposed to the cut.

Since the service was suspended fours years ago 6,000 people signed a petition calling for it to be reinstated.

It also followed an Inverclyde Council motion supported unanimously by all parties, rejecting the proposals.

Four years ago the full GP out of hours service in Inverclyde was suspended when the health board was put into special measures with a promise that it would be 'short term' and 'temporary' situation.

At yesterday's meeting Councillor McCluskey said: "We talk about stability of the system but the truth is that stability is at the expense of Inverclyde where there will now be a reduction in services.

"In 2019/20 we had a situation where there was a seven-days-a-week service. Albeit it was not running as it should have been, there were problems and closures. At the time doctors who were happy to work in Inverclyde were moved to cover the RAH.

"When the business continuity service first came into place the then chairman wrote the council leader to say it was short term and temporary and the service would be restored.

"The people of Inverclyde pay their taxes and deserve the same service as everyone else. They are being treated as second class citizens and they are not second class citizens. They deserve a first class service."

The Gourock councillor also said he has repeatedly asked for more data on the patient transport service but has yet to receive what he has asked for.

Mr McCluskey was supported by his three other Labour colleagues on the board from other local authority areas, as well as Graham Haddock, a former paediatric consultant who worked in the IRH and lives in Inverclyde.

He said he had concerns about the travelling for people living in Inverlclyde and the transport service.

Two members of the Inverclyde Integrated Joint Board, Ann Cameron Burns and David Gould, both voted in favour of the reduction which will see face to face GP out of hours only at the weekends for limited hours.

Ann Cameron Burns said: "I have lived and worked in Inverclyde. I think the service Inverclyde will now get is a vast improvement than before. I am a mother of four and I know what a good service looks like.

"It is all motorway to the RAH and it does not take that long. It is a safer service for our staff."

Mr Gould said: "I am aware of the strong feeling in Inverclyde. But I feel that it is about clinical safety and I support the proposal."

The chair of the GGCHB Lesley Thomson said they recognised the sense of loss and unfairness in Inverclyde but agreed with other members that it was perspective over reality.

The plans mean that Inverclyde Royal Hospital is the only GP out of hours site in the health board area not to operate a full seven days a week and overnight service.

Reacting to the decision independent Councillor Tommy McVey said: "The decision of the health board to cut out of hours GP services here in Inverclyde is nothing short of scandalous and makes a complete mockery of the consultation process.

"We are being treated like second class citizens and that is unacceptable.

"Almost 80 per cent of respondents to the consultation were against this cut.

"I hope the decision of the health board can be reversed and I have asked the chief executive to look at what options, if any, we have to achieve this."

Following the decision Dr Kerri Neylon, OBE, Deputy Medical Director for Primary Care, said: “I’d like to thank our colleagues who have worked so hard to make the changes and support the development of a robust, safe and sustainable service.

“I’d also like to thank everyone involved in the engagement process, including community groups, local clinicians, political stakeholders, and most importantly, patients and the public for their contribution.

“Through our engagement we heard from many people who supported the proposal. We also heard strong views in Inverclyde for local face-to-face access. In response to this, we have agreed to expand the PCEC hours at Inverclyde to include a Sunday service.”