 | 'Jack Cunningham, the Cabinet 'enforcer', is facing a Whitehall investigation into claims that he has indulged in extravagant living at the taxpayer's expense. The Prime Minister, who has urged ministers not to get hung up on 'the trappings of power', is likely to be disappointed at the newspaper claims that Mr Cunningham clocked up big expenses using luxury hotels, restaurants and flights on ministerial business.' Joy Copley, Political Editor in the Scotsman, 18 th January 1999. |  |
"Emergency patients will be at greater risk because of increased travelling to the ERI, causing potentially fatal delays," said SNP Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Edinburgh West, Sheena Cleland. "Shuttling patients around is bound to place extra demands on the ambulance service. ÊIf they have to spend their time ferrying patients between hospitals instead of answering emergency calls, the delays could be disastrous."
Ms Cleland was giving the local party's response to NHS Lothian'sÊhospital consultation. Edinburgh West SNP has put in a written submission criticising plans to close the Royal Victoria Hospital, run down the Western General and transfer services to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.
"The Western General serves a large and growing population in Edinburgh West," said Ms. Cleland today. "It makes no sense to scale down services there. If anything, they should be built up again after years of cutbacks. The changes are driven by the need to generate cash to pay for the ruinously expensive PFI contract on the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary".
"We are against closing the Royal Victoria Hospital, selling off the site for housing and moving elderly patients to the Western General. It would undoubtedly mean moving other acute specialities out. If that happened the Western would not have the full range of specialities to support the remaining departments and might become less safe as a result".
"TheÊNHS plan proposes extraÊtravelling for patients, consultants and visitors between the Western, the ERI and St. John's Hospital in Livingston. There are no transport plans in place to support this. It seems patients are expected to bear the extra cost themselves, a prospect we find unacceptable".
"Overall, Edinburgh West SNP believes that the proposals are dangerous and will result in lives being lost. No changes should be made until after the Kerr Commission reports in spring 2005. The ancillary services upon which the proposals rely, such as transport and community health services, must be in place before any radical changes are made. In the meantime NHS Lothian should listen to the views of its staff and patients, and keep services local."
Contacts;-
Sheena Cleland, PPC, 0777-8787549
Tony Grahame, Election Agent, 07977-060136
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