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 Health Correspondent Abeer Parkes reports"The hearing was the climax of years of campaigning"  real 28k |
Managers quizzed over hospital future
 Staff allege the hospital is being prepared for closure |
Health managers have been called before a Scottish Parliament following concerns about the future of Stracathro Hospital.
Members of the parliament's health committee demanded to know what strategy was in place for the hospital near Brechin.
The hearing followed a plea for the parliament to intervene by members of the hospital's staff action committee who have voiced concern over vacant posts, the transfer of specialist services elsewhere and ward closures.
 Paul White: "Robust questioning" |
However, they conceded under "robust questioning" about why �1m in public donations to the hospital had not been invested that the hospital's future was uncertain.
Managers pointed to a �12m deficit and said efficiency savings were being made across the board but denied there had been a lack of consultation and said they could not pre-empt an acute services review which was under way.
Speaking afterwards, trust spokesman Paul White said: "I expected there to be fairly robust questioning and there was.
"But I think the answers I gave were equally robust and showed the trust is not trying to pre-empt the review but is concerned about safe, sustainable services at Stracathro."
Ruth Leslie Melville, of the staff action committee, said she was pleased the parliament had responded to its concerns following receipt of a 25,000 petition voicing fears over the hospital's future.
She said: "I hope MSPs recognise that staff feel grossly let down and betrayed by the trust and the board.
"I think they've taken this to heart this morning and I think that could be seen by the way they questioned the trust and the board."
The committee said it would make its views on the matter known next week.
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 | 31 Aug 99 | Scotland |
| Hospital staff fight ward closures |
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