EXCLUSIVE

By STEWART PATERSON

GLASGOW'S A & E departments must not be allowed to descend into chaos as well as crisis when two units close, a city MP has warned.

The casualty departments at the Victoria Infirmary and the Western Infirmary will close leaving the Royal and the new South Glasgow Hospital the only two A&E departments in the city.

Anas Sarwar, Glasgow Central Labour MP, said he is concerned the two units will be unable to cope with the increased numbers and fears the public have not been made aware of the changes.

As reported in later editions of last night's Evening Times, there were concerns the Royal Infirmary could see an extra 10,000 patients a year, prompting union fears it will be at breaking point.

Mr Sarwar said he is writing to the First Minister to seek clarification on contingency plans should the new units be unable to cope and for assurances the public is being made fully aware of the closures and new arrangements.

He said: "Our Accident and Emergency departments are in a crisis just now with thousands not being seen within the target time.

"We cannot allow it to descend into chaos when the city goes from four to two A& E units."

Mr Sarwar said his constituents who currently use the Victoria are not fully aware of the changes and said many will face difficulties getting to the new South Glasgow Hospital.

The MP whose central constituency means people use all four casualty units, depending where they are closest to, said many will be too far away from the two remaining options.

He said already some people in the south east of the city will go to Hairmyres and ambulances take patients there as the Glasgow hospitals are overstretched.

He said: "We don't want people still arriving at the Western or the Victoria to be told there is no A & E."

He said he is asking the First Minister what public information campaign is in place and what modelling has been done on the impact on the two remaining units.

Mr Sarwar said: "This has been eight years in the planning and we are now at the 11th hour and not a leaflet has gone out to people to tell them what the changes mean for them."

The health board said the vast majority of patients would go to the new hospital at the Southern and the capacity at the new A&E will be greater than currently at the Victoria, Southern and Western combined.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "The Scottish Government has invested £842 million in the new South Glasgow Hospital campus, which will bring increased efficiency, shorter waiting times and better continuity of care.

"NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde has robust plans to ensure a smooth transition of services over to South Glasgow Hospital, including a three month public information campaign involving direct mailing to every household in Greater Glasgow and Clyde, public information radio broadcasts, newspaper supplements, web based digital platforms and direct community engagement.

"The board's plans also include assurances that both the Glasgow Royal Infirmary and South Glasgow Hospital will be properly resourced to operate effectively as the city's two main emergency receiving hospitals.

"We will respond to Mr Sarwar when we receive his letter."