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Clydebank groups join North of the River A&E Campaign
Clydebank community groups and representatives, including MP Gemma Doyle, have come together seek a North of the River solution for hospital services in Clydebank.
Despite the snow last week, a number of local people and groups from Clydebank turned out to the Play Drome to discuss hospital services for the town. This follows the news that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde are reviewing services through the Fit for the Future Clinical Services work streams.
A&E services under current plans will be centralised at 3 sites in coming years, the Royal Infirmary, Southern General and the RAH, Paisley. Consensus was reached at the meeting to call for A&E services in the North West of the health board's area, and in particular to push for serious consideration to be given to providing these services at the Golden Jubilee Hospital in Clydebank.
The group will be launching a petition on Saturday 13th April at 10am in Clydebank shopping centre where they will be asking local residents to back the campaign.
Attendees at the meeting included representatives from Clydebank Seniors Forum, Clydebank Churches Together, Clydebank Asbestos Group, Clydebank Transport Access Forum, Clyde Shopmobility, Mental Health Who Cares, West Dunbartonshire PPF, and Councillor Gail Casey.
Local MP Gemma Doyle said: "We have a real chance here to get a long term solution for A&E and hospital services for Clydebank.
"Current plans to centralise A&E on one site in the East of Glasgow and at two sites, very close to each other in the South of the health board's area, are far from ideal for people here in Clydebank.
"We are calling on NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde to look very seriously at A&E services for the population in the North West of their area, including Clydebank.
"I would dearly love to see Bankies getting the full benefit of the Golden Jubilee which is a fantastic facility, and the health board have advised that the existing specialist services which are delivered there could be delivered alongside additional services."
Rhona Young, Chairwoman of Clydebank Seniors Forum, commented: "People could die because they don't reach a hospital in time. It's a necessity that the whole Clydebank community gets involved quickly with it becaise it's going to be a very, very difficult situation once the Western Infirmary A&E closes.
"The Royal Infirmary is too far away and can't cope with the numbers and the Southern General is too inaccessible for people living in Clydebank, Yoker, Drumchapel. Everyone at the meeting agreed we've got to get involved as quickly as possible."