CAMPAIGNERS have reacted with outrage at a health boss claiming a hospital is “past it’s time”.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde propose to shut Lightburn Hospital in the east end, and move services to a variety of settings, including Stobhill, local care homes and community facilities.

In an exclusive interview with the Evening Times Catriona Renfrew, Director of Planning said Lightburn was “past its time” as health care had moved on and the hospital did not fit with modern delivery of health services.

Gerry McCann of Lightburn Glasgow East Support Group campaigned successfully in 2011 to save the hospital and he is battling to keep it open again.

He said he has lost any trust he had in the process and sees no point speaking to the health board.

Mr McCann said: “I think it is wrong that a health board member comes out with this during a period of engagement.

“We won’t be meeting with Catriona Renfrew or the Health Board now, she has made it clear she has made up her mind.”

Mr McCann said the talk of new service delivery masks the real aim of the board.

He added: “We have heard about his new model of care, it’s just an excuse to shut the hospital.”

Instead he said he would focus on ensuring the Scottish Government blocks the plan.

He said: “I am writing to the Health Secretary Shona Robison immediately to ask her to intervene.

Mr McCann said people would not accept the health board promising to engage while stating the hospital must close.

He added: “She has no right to come out with this during this process. She should come and speak to concerned people in the east end.

“East end people are not daft. Catriona Renfrew should remember that.”

Labour’s Health Spokesman, Anas Sarwar, also condemned the statements during a consultation.

He said: “This is attempting to make a fool out of people in the east end who rely on the service.

“They were told before the last election there was no proposal to close Lightburn, then it emerged there was a proposal but they were told it is only a consultation.

“Now they are told it is not a major service change. On what planet is the closure of a hospital not a major service change?”

He added “For Catriona Renfrew to say the hospital is ‘past its time’ is disrespectful to the patients and to the staff and to the electorate who were told it was safe.

“This is not a consultation it is a con. The SNP now has a responsibility to call this in and reject it.”

Ivan McKee, SNP MSP for Glasgow Provan, said the case for closure still had not been made.

He said: The concept is moving from acute hospitals into the community, well Lightburn is in the community close to the people it serves. They clearly have an agenda to shut it and say it’s not cost driven but frankly I don’t know.”

He said the reason there is no medical cover and fewer services at Lightburn is because the health board has stripped it out.