S4M-00302 Jackie Baillie: Reduction in Laboratory Services

That the Parliament condemns proposals by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to downgrade the haematology and biochemistry laboratories at the Vale of Leven and Inverclyde Royal hospitals; notes that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is proposing to downsize the current 24 hours per day, seven days per week service provided by these laboratories to one operating on a nine to five basis from Monday to Friday and that, outwith those times, it has been reported that 80% of samples will be sent to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley by taxi; understands that these proposals come at the same time as plans to convert two hospital wards at the Vale of Leven Hospital into laboratory space; further understands that these proposals will result in 50 or fewer samples per day being analysed at the Vale of Leven hospital; notes the comments by managers claiming that this will result in the laboratories becoming financially unviable and that it could ultimately lead to their closure, and calls on NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to abandon this proposal and for the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy to intervene to keep healthcare local at the Vale of Leven and Inverclyde Royal hospitals.