Vale of Leven Hospital campaigners quizzed NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s new top health chief at a meeting last week.
Hospitalwatch met with William Edwards, who is now Chief Operating Officer, taking over from Jonathan Best.
Jim Moohan, of the campaign group, told the Lennox Herald the meeting at the Alexandria was positive – with topics raised including Covid-19, GP appointments and recruitment.
He also raised his concerns over figures reported in the Lennox Herald last week, which revealed local
patients seeking urgent medical treatment have been sent to facilities
in Dunoon and Edinburgh.
Details released via the Freedom of Information Act showed patients who live in Dumbarton, the Vale of Leven, Balloch and Helensburgh have been directed to units outwith the area after contacting NHS 24.
Jim said: “Hospitalwatch would like to take the opportunity to welcome William Edwards to the position of Chief Operating Officer. “Hopefully he will continue the very productive work of Jonathan Best.
“We had a very informative meeting with William, with items including Covid-19, infrastructure, capital planning and the continuing stabilisation at Alexandria.
“I also highlighted our concern over the NHS 24 figures showing patients are being sent elsewhere.
“They said there had been a few instances but we said there had appeared to be more than that and
they are going to try and chase that problem down.
“There was a positive update on the capital programme and we were pleased to hear that recruitment of more nurses, as well as a psychiatrist is taking place.”
NHSGGC said last week that the figures show the majority of patients were referred to their local hospital, either the Vale of Leven or Gartnavel General Hospital, with others being sent to the RAH in Paisley or the Royal Hospital for Children, which are “entirely appropriate referrals”.
Local GP Dr Saied Pourghazi, who is also the West Dunbartonshire HSCP’s Clinical Director also attended the meeting, reporting that in the local area, GPs have seen a rise in patient contacts, estimated to be between
30 and 50 compared to pre-pandemic levels.
William Edwards pledged to continue to build on the relationship Jonathan Best forged with Hospitalwatch.
He said: “I know the relationships Jonathan and others managed to build with Hospitalwatch were very important to him.
“I found my first official meeting with Hospitalwatch very constructive. Alongside the Clyde team, I am looking forward to working with Jim and his colleagues to make the most of the Vale of Leven Hospital.
“These meetings are quarterly and aim to continue the positive communication – but my door is always open. I know how highly regarded the Vale is in the local community and how dedicated the staff are too and we want to build on that.”
William was previously the board’s director of eHealth and guided it through massive change as a result of Covid, such as establishing the technical infrastructure to support the vaccination programme.
This included the technology, telephony, reporting and contact centre staffing required to support
the programme.
