A COUNCILLOR has hit out after a Glasgow hospital allegedly told him they were unable to bandage his wound due to being “poorly stocked”.

Drumchapel councillor Paul Carey claims he contacted NHS 24 last weekend after he injured his

foot during a charity walk on May 26.

He was urged to attend Stobhill Hospital out-of-hours for treatment as he suffers from type two diabetes – a condition which heightens the danger of him developing an infection. However, when he arrived he was “horrified” to discover the nurse was unable to address his wounds due to an alleged shortage in supplies.

He says he ended up buying a bandage from a nearby pharmacy and dressing the wound himself.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde insisted its not common practice to have such supplies at the centre.

Cllr Carey told our sister paper, the Evening Times: “This is another prime example of cracks appearing in the NHS. I was absolutely shocked and horrified to find out that there was a lack of equipment – in my case dressings. We have an NHS that is the envy of the world. We have staff who are professional and committed to treating patients.

“When is the health minister going to commit proper funding to match this dedication and commitment to the staff?

“Or is it just a case that it’s a postcode lottery as in, which hospital you turn up to in this city, determines whether the staff have the proper equipment to deal with patients?”

Cllr Carey was prescribed antibiotics to prevent infection and bought dressing from a nearby pharmacy to dress the wound himself.

A spokesman for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “Before being seen by the GP, the patient was seen by a nurse who explained to him that out-of-hours services have limited access to dressings due to it being a GP service. He was treated appropriately for the conditions he presented with and was further advised to see his own GP for a follow up.

“Out-of-hours services are not routinely stocked with an extensive range of dressings, instead carrying regular bandages and dressings, as most minor injuries are more appropriately treated at a Minor Injuries Unit.”

A spokesman for the Scottish Government added: “NHS out of hours staff do excellent work in proving advice and care every day.

“While providing a different service to that of minor injuries units and A&Es the out of hours service can play a vital role.”