Sturgeon overrules health executives to save hospital

Lightburn Hospital in the east end of Glasgow was earmarked to shut following a decision by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to send some patients elsewhere. The plan was expected to save about £650,000 a year.

But after more than 7,000 people signed a petition to save the 120-bed facility, near Tollcross, Ms Sturgeon said yesterday she had been persuaded by campaigners and staff to save the facility.

She has now ordered the health board to revise its plans.

“The government has a policy of maintaining local access to healthcare services where it is appropriate to do so, and where it is in patients’ best interests,” Ms Sturgeon said yesterday.

“It is my view that local people’s interests are best served by maintaining Lightburn Hospital and its healthcare services.

“I have repeatedly heard – not least from local patients and clinicians – that Lightburn Hospital provides high-quality services that are greatly valued by what is a significantly disadvantaged community.

“I also had to consider the real issues around the adequacy and availability of local public transport links, which local people may have used to access the proposed alternative hospital sites.

“It is the case that hospital services are not static and need to change, and in that context this has been a difficult decision. In this particular case, I am not convinced by the board’s proposal for change, and am persuaded by the argument for maintaining local access to what is clearly regarded as a valuable and high-quality local facility.”

She asked the health board to “maintain and improve” the quality of service.

The health board’s recommendation followed a four-month public consultation involving more than 700 patients.

The board said closing Lightburn Hospital would provide rehabilitation services to patients in higher-quality accommodation, with on-site diagnostic and specialist services.

A redesign of inpatient services was expected to mean more patients being treated at Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

Specialist inpatient rehabilitation for people who had a stroke or an orthopaedic treatment, such as a hip replacement, were to go to Stobhill.

A spokeswoman for the health board said it had been seeking to “achieve a balance” between the delivery of high- quality care for patients staying in the hospital and maintaining locally accessible day care and outpatient services,

But she added: “We will revisit our plans for older people’s services within the east of the city to ensure that we can deliver sustainable services, with Lightburn Hospital as a vibrant component of this.”