NHS Tayside chiefs have been urged to rethink plans to reduce Perth Royal Infirmary’s emergency capabilities.
It was announced earlier this year that the health trust is looking to centralise emergency surgery at Ninewells in Dundee, with PRI gradually becoming a specialist unit for scheduled surgery.
The announcement raised old concerns about the downgrading of the hospital and saw elected members call for a meeting with NHS Tayside chief executive Gerry Marr.
That meeting took place at Ninewells, with Mr Marr apparently pledging to review the surgery decision and promising greater transparency over changes at PRI in the future.
Speaking after the meeting, Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Liz Smith welcomed those pledges, but said she believed NHS Tayside was, nonetheless, guilty of some “flawed” thinking.
Ms Smith told The Courier: “Prior to the meeting I was seeking full consultation and transparency regarding the proposal to remove emergency surgery at Perth Royal Infirmary.
“I am pleased that this is being reviewed and a number of meetings are to take place prior to any decision being taken on the issue in the coming months.
“Like many residents across Perthshire and Kinross-shire, I continue to be unconvinced by the case being put by NHS Tayside to centralise emergency surgery at Ninewells in Dundee.
“With the population in Perthshire and Kinross-shire increasing by 7% since 2001 and projections showing that the population is set to increase by 27% in the period 2008-2033 I believe the thinking being put forward is deeply-flawed and illogical.
“Local people are clear that they want to see Perth Royal Infirmary as their primary hospital. This has been constantly undermined by the removal of the maternity ward from PRI, as well as paediatrics, pathology and weekend surgery.
“It is not surprising that there is such public anger about the latest plans to further cut emergency surgery.
“The MSPs sought and received the guarantee that, from now on, there will be regular meetings between NHS Tayside and elected members so that they are provided with a full briefing about any significant issues with hospital management, as is the case with NHS boards across Scotland.”
Numerous concerns about the operation of PRI have been raised since the start of the year, with nursing staff breaking ranks with bosses earlier this month to make public a series of concerns about staffing levels at the hospital.
Their whistleblowing led Ms Smith to call for greater transparency to allow NHS staff to bring forward genuine concerns about inefficiency and clinical wrongdoing.