Campaign to re-instate Glenrothes Hospital service grows

For the first time since Fife Health & Social Care Partnership announced that it would be closing its Out-of-Hours service at three Fife hospitals due to a shortage of staff, local residents had the chance vent their frustration in a public forum.

And the message from local politicians and residents was clear: reverse the decision.

The meeting, hosted by Glenrothes Area Residents Federation (GARF), attracted a sizeable crowd, including MSPs and councillors, both current and former.

However, there was one notable absentee.

Fife Health & Social Care Partnership did not send a representative to the meeting.

MSP Jenny Gilruth said of its decision not to send a representative: “How dare they treat this town with such disdain.”

Ms Gilruth, who has sent a letter to Michael Kellet, director of partnership, calling on him to reverse the decision, also told the meeting that she had submitted a members’ motion to the Scottish Parliament.

The motion suggests that the decision to close the service was made without public consultation; that it will increase health inequalities in Glenrothes; that it will create an additional resource burden on staff at the Victoria Hospital; that any public consultation that takes place during this three month contingency closure will be comprimised; and notes the calls for the partnership’s director to reverse the decision.

She told attendees: “What kind of a legacy are we leaving the town’s young people in its 70th year? We, as elected officials, must make sure this service is re-instated.”

MSP Alex Rowley said he wanted to see a Fife-wide campaign built up, while Councillor Altany Craik said: “We’ve already fought this fight. It’s not good enough. We’ve got a fight on our hands.”

Another public meeting, organised by Glenrothes Area Futures Group, is to be held at the CISWO on May 16, beginning at 6.30pm.

Read more about the meeting in tomorrow’s Glenrothes Gazette.