Hyslop Calls for All to Get behind St John’s
Comments on Review of Children’s Services Report
Following the release of the recent Report by the Royal College of Paediatricians and Children’s Health into the progress in implementing the plan for a sustainable 24/7 Children’s Ward at St John’s Hospital in Livingston, Fiona Hyslop commented:
“Although parents will be disappointed that the Report doesn’t present an instant solution to returning immediately to 24/7 opening of the Children’s Ward, this is a considered, detailed, realistic and constructive assessment of the significant progress made to date giving a clear route forward to achieve it. Everyone including politicians from all parties need to get behind implementing their proposals.
“The Report calls on everyone, including politicians and NHS Lothian to provide the space and time to the professional medical staff and local managers to achieve the necessary recruitment and additional detailed and constructive actions needed to secure safe and sustainable overnight inpatient admissions. It states that cost is not the issue and recruitment is a UK wide concern. It also praises the positive work with local GPs in West Lothian and reiterates the College’s belief that a full 24/7 service is the way forward.
“I call on everyone to pull together and get behind the clinicians, staff and management and to stop questioning the future of the Ward, and instead put energies into supporting the delivery of the plan for 27/4 opening set out by the Royal College.”
ENDS
Editor’s Note:
The Report is called the Invited Reviews Programme Report