Hospital services ignite debate at Fife hustings
HOSPITAL SERVICES dominated the debate at a hustings organised by The Courier in Dunfermline last night.
All nine candidates standing at the Dunfermline and West Fife by-election fielded questions from members of the public and community activists during an event at the Glen Pavilion.
Len Woods asked about reorganisation of services at Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline.
He said, “Up until 2010, a pregnant woman in Fife has the choice of a birth at home or a trip to the Victoria in Kirkcaldy. After 2010, she has the choice of a birth at home or a midwife-led situation at Queen Margaret, with complicated cases going to the Vic. Is this an acceptable situation in modern day society?”
Labour candidate Catherine Stihler, who is expecting her first child in a few months, said, “Any mother-to-be like myself would support a midwife-led unit in Dunfermline and West Fife. We don’t have that at the moment.”
Carrie Ruxton, for the Conservative Party, disagreed and said it amounted to downgrading of hospital services.
The Rev George Hargreaves, of the Scottish Christian Party, said, “I’m glad I’ve got two grown up sons and my wife won’t have to be subjected to this level of service.”
For the Liberal Democrats, Willie Rennie said the situation was “not acceptable” and pledged to work with local hospital campaigners if elected.
Douglas Chapman, SNP candidate, said, “I don’t believe Fife health board or ministers have made the case to move services out of Dunfermline.”
Scottish Socialist candidate John McAllion said the cost of paying for hospitals built by private finance initiatives (PFI) would take money away from services.
Ian Borland, for UKIP, said the party would “bring back local power.”
National Alliance Against Tolls candidate Tom Minogue said, “When my second daughter went into labour she was sent away because they were short-staffed in Kirkcaldy. She went back and gave birth to the baby as she walked in the door.
“If she lived in Culross she would have given birth to my granddaughter on the motorway.”
The Common Good Party candidate, the Rev Richard Rodgers said health boards “depended too much on private funding.”
John Winton, from hospital campaign group Local Health Concern, then asked what action the candidates, if elected, would pressurise NHS Fife and the government to take.
Mr McAllion said he would call for round the clock services. He said one woman had to wait three hours for an ambulance after suffering a severe angina attack.
A full range of services in the Fife region was Mr Rodgers’ answer, and UKIP said they would question where money ploughed into the NHS was being spent.
Mrs Stihler said Labour had brought about a £12 million investment in Queen Margaret Hospital and promised “first class services for the people of Fife.”
An accident and emergency unit should be retained in Dunfermline, said Ms Ruxton, who also said money should not be wasted on another operating theatre at the Victoria when there were eight at Queen Margaret.
Mr Chapman said he would demand a “full accident and emergency service” as well as children’s services be kept in Dunfermline.
Mr Minogue pointed out that many people in west Fife were former dockyard workers or coal miners and said care for people with “industrial diseases” was vital.
Fife Labour Councillor Alan Kenney commented that the issue was not about “bricks and mortar” but about the shortage of skilled professionals.
Health service campaigner Letitia Murphy also asked about the future of Queen Margaret. Mr McAllion said hospitals should “never have anything to do with the public sector.”
Mr Hargreaves said, “Hospitals were first and foremost set up by the church to take care of people, not for profit. That’s how the health service should be.”
But Mr Rennie said, “In terms of private finance, I think if it improves patient care and you get value for money, and it actually does improve the health service overall, then I think you should use it.”
Ms Ruxton said, “No more reviews, lets just get on with it. I don’t want to take my sick child all the way to Kirkcaldy and neither do you.”
Mr Chapman added, “I never thought I would see a Labour government promoting the private sector within the NHS.”
The Courier
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