Health chiefs agree to save children's ward

As exclusively rev-ealed in the Evening Times, Ward 15 at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley will continue treating patients after a board meeting by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde bosses rubber stamped recommendations to keep it open as part of a review into clinical services

Parents and campaigners had argued against closure of the ward. A-List Hollywood actor Gerard Butler, who is from the town, added his name to the battle, saying it would be a "blow Paisley can do without".

More than 900 people signed a petition against closing the 28-bed ward, which would save £1million but see patients instead sent to Yorkhill Sick Kid's Hospital in Glasgow.

The matter was also raised in the Scottish Parliament.

Campaigner Sandra Webster, whose children use the ward, said: "We are delighted.

"We know it is not the end of the struggle, but we have made our point.

"The ward had 4300 admissions last year. There is not the infrastructure at Yorkhill Hospital to cope with the influx if the Paisley ward were closed.

"People from throughout Renfrewshire and Inverclyde use this ward.

"It serves a huge population."

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde had originally come up with a range of options for the ward's future to put forward for consultation.

These included a possibility that all in-patient admissions, short-stay medical assessment and medical and surgical day-care paediatric services would be delivered from Yorkhill.

Another option was that all overnight admissions would go to York- hill, but a dedicated area for short stay medical assessment and planned medical and surgical day care would be retained at Paisley.

A spokeswoman for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said the meeting had "created an ideal opportunity to open up a conversation with all stakeholders about shaping the services for the future".

"The Board also agreed that the current review of paediatric inpatient services at RAH should be incorporated into this wider process."