INVERCLYDE'S MSP is facing calls to resign over what has been branded his 'failure' to oppose the controversial cuts to the district's GP out-of-hours services.

Independent Councillor Tommy McVey has hit out at Stuart McMillan after the SNP man defended Greater Glasgow and Clyde's decision to leave Inverclyde without a full service.

Councillor McVey said: "I understand that as a member of a political party you have to 'toe the party line' to a certain extent.

"However, on a fundamental issue such as this, when even his fellow SNP elected representatives are against the out-of-hours cuts, he [Mr McMillan] continues to defend them.

"On a personal level, I like Stuart and he is a nice guy but maybe it is time for him to make way for someone who will fight against the continual downgrading of health services here in Inverclyde.

"How Stuart McMillan can defend this decision proves not only that he's out of touch with his own SNP councillors, our MP and local residents - he is out of touch with reality.

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

"He really should consider his position."

Under the new proposals, agreed last week, Inverclyde Royal Hospital is the only out-of-hours centre which doesn't offer face to face access to a GP on evenings or overnight.

It is only open for limited hours on Saturday and Sunday for appointments.

Prior to the health board meeting, Inverclyde Council unanimously opposed the proposals and was joined by MP Ronnie Cowan in calling on the health board to reconsider the move.

Despite the overwhelming opposition, the board pushed through the changes to the frontline service.

Councillor McVey, who represents Inverclyde South, called the decision by the health board 'scandalous.'

A defiant Mr McMillan retaliated by hitting out at both Councillor McVey and Labour Councillor Martin McCluskey, who resigned from the health board earlier this week in protest at the decision.

Greenock Telegraph: Stuart McMillan MSP

Mr McMillan said: "From the outset, let’s get two things straight. I do not support the changes that were made to our out-of-hours GP service in February 2020. Secondly, and we need to be very clear about this, people living in Inverclyde still have access to a full out-of-hours GP service.

"While I do not support these changes being made permanent, I did ask at the meeting I attended last week with senior NHSGGC officials for this position to be reviewed again in the future.

"If the number of people attending out-of-hours appointments from Inverclyde increases, at present it is on average four-a-night, this would increase the pressure on the hours at the IRH being extended. This assurance was given.

"To be clear, the proposals put forward by the health board are an increase on what we have had for the past four years. Contrary to the political games being played by Cllrs McCluskey and McVey, the service has not been removed from Inverclyde. We should also remember, there are now only five hospital sites offering face-to-face GP out of hours appointments in the GGC area. Only two have an A&E, the IRH and the RAH.

"What neither Cllr McCluskey or McVey wants, or seem able to do, is to have a reasoned argument. As with the police station, council tax freeze and EE, they immediately jump to see how they can blame me or the Scottish Government for the issue. Both councillors voted to increase your council tax by 8.2%. Should they be questioning their position?

"This was a board decision. Cllr McCluskey was a board member. Maybe he didn’t put enough pressure on the board. I think it is more likely he has resigned from the board out of shame than any principled stance."

Councillor McCluskey hit back: "This is desperate stuff from Stuart McMillan. Personally, I have no problem with Stuart as an individual but as Inverclyde's MSP he has failed to stand up for public services, the people who rely on them and the folk who work in them.

"Stuart is an MSP for the party that has been in government in Scotland for the past 17 years - it's about time he took some responsibility rather than these desperate attacks.

"I made the argument for years against reducing the out-of-hours service in Inverclyde. Why does Stuart think that argument is unreasonable?

"I was incredibly disappointed that in January he told Telegraph readers that he accepted the fact that Inverclyde would have a reduced service.

"If Stuart reads the papers from Tuesday's health board meeting he will see that the board is facing more cuts to services because of the poor settlement from the Scottish Government, and the finance director said that every service would need to be reviewed.

"People have been unable to rely on Stuart to defend the out-of-hours service. How can they rely on him to fight the cuts that are coming down the track?"