Published: Wednesday, 18th June, 2008 13:00
Two month reprieve for hospice D-day
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PLACARDS: Campaigers staged a peaceful protest outside Nicola Sturgeon’s constituency office
CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save a Clydebank hospice have been handed a ray of hope by health chiefs.
After a meeting with the board of St Margaret’s Hospice on Wednesday, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (GGC) has agreed to re-examine its plans to axe £1.2m of funding.
A decision was due to be made on the future of the Whitecrook hospice on June 24, but after the showdown talks this week health chiefs have now agreed to take a further two months to review the implications of their proposal.
Professor Leo Martin, chairman of the hospice, told the Post: “The board made it clear that we are not going to be turned into a care home.
“The health board has agreed to go away and think again at the options on the table and, to be honest, the hospice has got no choice but to ask them to do that, because we cannot change from being a hospice.
“At the meeting they agreed to consider what we are saying because what they are proposing is not possible for the hospice.
“We hope that the arguments from all of our supporters and the board have given the health board the chance to think again and provide a favourable outcome.”
Des McNulty, Clydebank MSP, said: “What we feared was that they would simply come back with the same position that they have adopted up until now and that they would try to put through the removal of the beds.
“But if the health board is prepared to be more constructive then that is welcome, but no-one should be putting out the flags at this point and saying that the argument has been won.
“I want to see a secure future for the hospice and I’m not going to rest, or let anyone off the hook, until that’s achieved.
“I think that this community has to be prepared to take whatever steps we need to change the minds of the health board to ensure this vital service is secured for the people of Clydebank.”
Gil Paterson, list MSP for the area, is also delighted that the health board is reconsidering its plans, but he urged the people of Clydebank to remain united to win this fight. A spokeswoman for GGC said: “We had a useful meeting at St Margaret’s.
“The visit gave the board chairman the opportunity to see the full range of facilities available.
“We agreed to undertake a further piece of joint work over the next two months to look at the two alternative care options which the NHS board has proposed and the implications that such a change would involve.”
Despite the positive outcome of the talks, campaigners are still continuing their fight.
A small band of people staged a peaceful demonstration outside Nicola Sturgeon’s constituency office on Thursday to try to keep the issue in the limelight.
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