The A&E service at Ayr Hospital would be closed down

The health board is proposing to open a network of minor injury units in the area and concentrate A&E facilities at Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock.

NHS Ayrshire and Arran said "extensive" consultation was held on the changes.

But Tory MSP John Scott said the majority of consultants at the hospital were against the decision.

More opportunities

The health board's medical director Dr Bob Masterton said it had been its most extensive consultation ever.

He said: "We've done 19 public meetings. We've used newspapers. We've used the radio. We've used television. We've consulted very widely with the people of Ayrshire and Arran and done that very honestly.

"We have listened and we believe that we can demonstrate throughout that we've been listening.

"During the consultation exercise significantly more opportunities were added to the list.

"We did a lot more than was originally planned. We almost doubled the number of events we were involved in and that was evidence we were listening."

What people want is their A&E units close by John Scott Tory MSP

However, retired surgeon and former NHS manager Patrick McNally said he was appalled by the 'truth deficit' in proposals put before the public in Ayrshire.

He said: "It really does make me angry.

"The public don't know the detail of how the healthcare system works. They don't need to. But they are perfectly capable of being part of difficult decisions."

He said that if there was not enough money or too few staff then the health board should be "honest" about its reasons.

Mr Scott said: "I believe the Ayr A&E unit should be kept open, indeed both units should be kept open.

Patient journeys

"I think the people of southern Ayrshire will suffer if the A&E unit is closed. It is not just my view, it is the view of the consultants at Ayr Hospital, the majority of whom say this is not a good idea.

"What people want is their A&E units close by."

The switch to Crosshouse Hospital, which would be the only specialist casualty unit in Ayrshire, could add 30 minutes to some patients' journeys.