Furious Fife politicians have accused NHS Fife of a “total breach of trust” over its decision to press ahead with the closure of the out of hours GP service at Glenrothes Hospital.
Glenrothes MP Lindsay Roy and local MSP Tricia Marwick launched a blistering attack on the health board, claiming it had dismissed the tide of local opinion against the closure.
When it meets on Tuesday, the NHS Fife board is expected to approve the transfer of the service to Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy.
The health board said the closure of the Glenrothes Primary Care Emergency Service (PCES) would improve patient safety because the move would see the service relocated to a hospital with facilities including an accident and emergency department.
Last year, 987 patients who turned up at Glenrothes had to be transferred to Kirkcaldy and NHS Fife said those were the patients “most at risk”.
However, Mr Roy criticised the review process, which he said did not take into account the option of upgrading Glenrothes Hospital.
“This was omitted, despite the written assurance of NHS Fife chief executive John Wilson that it would be included,” said Mr Roy.
“Failure to do this meant the whole options appraisal process was skewed.
“This was a total breach of trust and we therefore conclude the approach was designed purely to support the clear wish of management to close the out of hours service at Glenrothes.
“In addition, the report makes reference to around 10% of those attending Glenrothes requiring to be transferred to A&E for further treatment.
“Yet this is mirrored at other PCES centres in Fife and therefore, cannot be used as a valid reason for transferring this service. Local views have been dismissed and treated with disdain.”
Mrs Marwick said NHS Fife officials “made it clear from the very outset” moving the service to Victoria was the only option under consideration.
She said: “Little, if any, recognition has been given in the report to the strength of feeling and key points expressed during consultation to retain the service at Glenrothes.
“There is scant reference in the paper to the unanimous support for retaining the high quality of service for the Glenrothes catchment from the consultation.
“The report glosses over the fact that the elected MP and MSP, all elected members on Fife Council area committee, every community council and representative group covering the catchment area, the local newspaper and, overwhelmingly, members of the public, support the retention of this vital and valued service.
“The report also states three health board-sponsored patient and public partnership forums support the change but they met before all the evidence was in and received only a progress report. There is no evidence they supported the change.”
Around 200 people signed a petition calling for the out of hours service to be retained.
Glenrothes Area Futures Group was among the campaigners for the service. Group spokesman Ron Page said: “GAFG continues to refute the arguments which are propounded in favour of the closure of the Glenrothes out of hours service.
“It’s astonishing that the board officials appear disinterested in these widespread views. Why close a service which receives such adulation?
“We appeal, therefore, to the non-NHS members of the board in particular not to be swayed by the board’s officials and to continue the overall appraisal of Fife’s PCES. Indeed, to enhance it.”