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Downgrade plans hospital visited Hospital decision by 'year's end'
(about 12 hours later)
A hospital where services are set to be downgraded is to be visited by Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon. The decision over a hospital facing a scaling-down exercise will be taken by the end of this year, Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon has said.
Health chiefs announced in May that they want to scale back the services provided at the Vale of Leven Hospital at Alexandria, West Dunbartonshire. The timescale emerged during a visit to the Vale of Leven Hospital at Alexandria in West Dunbartonshire.
The health board said some emergency procedures at the hospital would be ended, alongside other services. Health chiefs announced in May that they wanted to scale back emergency procedures and other hospital services.
Ms Sturgeon said she was listening to the views of local people and no final decision had been taken. The proposals recommended that future emergency patients should instead go to the Paisley's Royal Alexandra Hospital.
Experts said the anaesthetic service department at the hospital was "not sustainable". Rehabilitation services would also be moved under the plan.
They also recommended that emergency patients should go to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley. Independent scrutiny
Rehabilitation services would also be moved under the proposals, but local politicians have hit out at the plans saying these would lead to the loss of up 150 jobs and 60 beds. But local politicians have hit out at the proposals saying these would lead to the loss of up 150 jobs and 60 beds.
'Final decision' During her visit, the minister emphasised that no final decision had yet been taken.
Her spokesman added. "Whatever happens will be subject to independent scrutiny and will go out to public consultation.
"She expects that it will come to her for final decision towards the end of the year."
Ms Sturgeon said ahead of her visit: "I know lots of staff and patients in the Vale of Leven area will have questions about NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde's proposals for the future of the hospital.Ms Sturgeon said ahead of her visit: "I know lots of staff and patients in the Vale of Leven area will have questions about NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde's proposals for the future of the hospital.
"I am here today to listen to what patients and staff have to say about this issue and any others they raise with me." "I am here to listen to what patients and staff have to say about this issue and any others they raise with me."
She said the views of local people would play an important part in the final decision.
"The proposals on service change published so far by Greater Glasgow and Clyde are just that - proposals," she said.
"No final decisions have been taken and the proposals will be subjected to independent scrutiny and public consultation before coming to me for a final decision."