Local MSP Jackie Baillie is calling on West Dunbartonshire Council Leader Ronnie McColl to resign from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board following his support for the Cabinet Secretary’s decision to permanently close the Christie Ward.

Just two weeks ago, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, Nicola Sturgeon, gave approval to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s plan to permanently close the Christie Ward and transfer in-patient mental health services to Gartnavel.

The local MSP was furious at the decision as she does not believe the closure of the ward is in the interest of patient well-being or the local community.

Councillor Ronnie McColl is a member of the Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board and is eligible to vote on Board proposals.  However given that he agreed to the closure of the Christie Ward and failed to stand up for the interests of the Vale of Leven hospital at the board meeting on 18 October 2011, local MSP Jackie Baillie is calling on Councillor McColl to resign.

Jackie said:

“It is clear that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board has no interest in retaining the Christie Ward or listening to the views of the local community.

“They failed to listen to the lay members on the Vale of Leven Monitoring Group and disregarded the compelling argument they made about the retention of the Christie Ward. 

“Councillor McColl has made his choice.  He has chosen to back the plans to shut the Christie Ward, like his SNP colleagues in Government, rather than stand up for his local community and protect their interests. 

“Councillor McColl being a member of the board has brought this area no benefit, the board has continued to railroad through the decisions they want and has engaged only on the most superficial level with the local community.  By remaining as a board member Councillor McColl is only legitimising a decision which has dealt a blow to the Vale of Leven Hospital.

“Councillor McColl must resign if he really believes in putting the community’s interests first.”