THE health board is planning to shut in-patient beds at a unit it said months ago was viable and services would not change.

The Local Delivery Plan for Greater Glasgow includes a plan to shut the seven beds at the Centre of Integrated Care at Gartnavel General Hospital.

The service offers a range of treatments including homeopathy and chronic pain management for several conditions including cancer, MS and Motor Neurone Disease.

The proposal is in a leaked report to be considered by the Health board at the end of the month to save £69m.

The CIC which also houses the homeopathic unit, has been used by other boards, but mostly by Glasgow patients.

The plan states: “The proposal is to establish the CIC as a day and outpatient service only, ceasing to provide the current five day inpatient service provided by seven beds.

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“The requirement for the in-patient service is reduced by the decisions of other boards to cease to fund the service, that reduction in funding also requires us to reduce costs.

“This proposal enables us to achieve that while ensuring that the service remains available to GG and C residents.”

However in September Robert Calderwood, health board chief Executive, said there were no plans to change the service.

He said: “The Centre of Integrated Care continues to be viable, even in the light of other NHS boards’ decisions to stop referring patients to it and it will continue to see and treat patients from a range of NHS boards, but principally NHE Greater Glasgow residents.”

There is a petition at the Scottish Parliament asking for it to be given national status and funding from the government to protect its services.

Campaigner Catherine Hughes lodged the petition still being considered.

She is concerned by the latest development and fears the centre will be lost altogether.

She said: “The number of beds has already been reduced from 14 to seven.

“It would be really bad news if this was to close. It’s used by patients with many conditions like Motor Neurone Disease, MS and cancer. It will badly affect the people who use the centre.

“This is a further cut to eventually close it completely.”

The Scottish Government said the health secretary, Shona Robison was given an assurance from the Health Board last year the service was not at risk.

Elizabeth Porterfield, Head of strategic planning and Clinical priorities at the Scottish Government Healthcare directorate, said in a letter to the petitions committee: “NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, have confirmed they have no plans to change the services provided by or indeed to close, the CIC.

“Additionally this was re-stated to Shona Robison and Maureen Watt during a visit on June 2015.

“Ms Watt also gave her personal assurance in that regard at the meeting of the cross party group on chronic pain on May 20 2015.”

A spokeswoman for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: The Board is planning to engage with the public and patients on a range of service changes during this year with a view to making final decisions in late 2016.”