NHS GREATER GLASGOW AND CLYDE BEHAVING LIKE A SPOILT CHILD - FINNIE

Written by Ross Finnie on Fri 25th Sep 2009

NHS GREATER GLASGOW AND CLYDE BEHAVING LIKE A SPOILT CHILD - FINNIE

West of Scotland Liberal Democrat MSP Ross Finnie fears for the future of Inverclyde's Community Maternity Unit.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde are proposing moving Inverclyde's Community Maternity Unit to an on call service at night and weekends. The Board says it has been forced to cut costs to make the Community Maternity Unit (CMU) more efficient. The move means a total of four midwives from units at Inverclyde Royal and the Vale of Leven will be redeployed.

Commenting Mr Finnie said:

"NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde are behaving like a spoilt child. They wanted to close down the CMU but were forced to keep it open for a further trial period of 3 years and run a community education programme to champion its benefits.

"Now, out of spite for not getting its own way the Board has deliberately made the CMU as unattractive as possible by making the full service available only from 9 am to 5 pm. The message from the Board couldn't be clearer: "If you think you might give birth out with the hours of 9 to 5 the CMU is not for you!"

"This is arrogant petulant nonsense for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, who signed off the 3 year CMU proposal, should stamp on the Board and demand that the agreement be delivered in full.

"Pregnant mums to be in Inverclyde deserve no less."

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