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Whitehead: only SNP can safeguard Victoria Infirmary services |
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Friday, 16 September 2005 |
 SNP
candidate in the Cathcart by-election, Maire Whitehead, today (Friday)
accused the Labour Party of “losing the plot†with its plans to cut
A&E services at the Victoria Infirmary.
Ms Whitehead was commenting as the SNP published figures showing that
the number of people waiting more than four hours for treatment at
A&E departments in Scotland rose from more than 41,000 in March
2000 to over 150,000 in April 2005.
The figures also revealed that the Victoria Infirmary’s A&E
department had the lowest number of patients waiting for more than four
hours in Glasgow.
Ms Whitehead said:
"These figures clearly show that Labour has lost touch with reality.
Despite the Victoria Infirmary having the best-performing A&E in
Glasgow for waiting times, the Labour Party is intent on centralising
this service away from the hospital.
“This by-election gives voters a chance to make a difference by derailing Labour’s absurd plans to scale back services.
"As the MSP for Cathcart, I will take the fight for the Victoria
Infirmary to the Scottish Parliament, and ensure that A&E services
and inpatient beds are retained locally while new services, such as
dialysis facilities for renal patients, are brought to the hospital.
"As we have seen in Govan and Hamilton, when the SNP wins, communities
win. At this by-election the people of Cathcart can make a difference
and send a powerful message to Labour: we are sick of your broken
promises and casual disregard for the services which are vital to local
communities."
SNP Shadow Health Minister, Shona Robison MSP, added:
"The situation at the Victoria Infirmary is a reflection of the problem
facing Scotland as Labour continues its headlong charge to
centralisation, regardless of the impact on the communities where
services are to be scaled back.
“It is clear from the rise in waiting times at A&E departments in
Glasgow that it would be folly to make this situation worse by reducing
A&E provision in the city on the scale proposed.
“The A&E department at the Victoria Infirmary is the best
performing in Glasgow and that excellence must not be lost to the city.
"Voters in Cathcart have a clear choice; the loss of more local health
services with Labour or the retention and advancement of local services
at the point of need with the SNP. Only the SNP can be trusted to make
Scotland matter." |
