MSPs back News' campaign not to downgrade Sick Kids

TWO Lothian Nationalist MSPs have thrown their weight behind the Hands Off The Sick Kids campaign and called for urgent talks with Health Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

SNP politicians Shirley-Ann Somerville and Ian McKee both want to see children's cancer and brain surgery kept in Edinburgh.

The Scottish Government will decide whether to centralise the services in a matter of months, with the final decision resting with Ms Sturgeon.

The possibility that they will be moved away from Edinburgh has caused a storm of protest with more than 1000 petitioning against the move and more set to take to the streets on Saturday collecting signatures.

Ms Somerville is a former campaigns officer for the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), while Dr McKee worked as a GP before last May's election. Both have seen the good work done by the Sick Kids and neither want it downgraded.

Ms Somerville said: "The services at the Sick Kids are considered to be of a world-leading nature. It would seem strange if that was changed to move them elsewhere.

"I am going to be contacting Nicola Sturgeon to ask if we can have a meeting to discuss that with her further. Both Ian and myself feel it's a very important issue.

"We feel a strong case needs to be made to retain services at the Sick Kids."

She added: "We would hope to press our case, if not before the final report, then certainly before the decision is made.

"There are a number of concerned constituents who have got in touch (about this issue] and I know people who have benefited from the excellent service they provide."

Mr McKee added: "I am firmly behind the Evening News campaign. We've got a tremendous centre of specialist knowledge in Edinburgh.

"The SNP government got into office with a commitment to presume against centralisation of services. Therefore, there has to be a very good clinical argument for these services to be centralised to the point that Edinburgh does not have them anymore. I don't think that case has been made."

He added: "Indeed centralising neurology could affect other activities in the Lothians like dominoes, particularly intensive care.

"As a GP I often referred patients to the Sick Kids. I know it delivers a first class quality of service."

The Scottish Government has stressed it has made no final decision on the future of the services.

Ms Sturgeon said: "I can confirm the Scottish Government is involved in a number of meetings with key stakeholders to discuss progress on the review of specialist children's services.

"Our main aim is to ensure that care is provided as safely and close to home as achievable."


SUPPORT FOR HOSPITAL WIDESPREAD

BUSINESSES and members of the public have been quick to lend their support to the Sick Kids in the face of centralisation proposals.

Evening News posters with the Hands Off The Sick Kids logo and petitions opposing its downgrading have been in great demand.

Granton Library, Kaplan Aspect Edinburgh language school, and consultants Finlayson Wagner Black have all backed the campaign.

Several people have called the Evening News asking how they can get involved on Saturday.

And we have been inundated with stories from readers about how the Sick Kids have helped them or other family members over the years.

Brian Hutchison, 44, from West Calder, said: "I was a patient at the Sick Kids 40 years ago and I think it is a disgrace anyone would think about moving services away from it.

"I had hydrocephalus and required an operation to take fluid out of the brain.

"They also helped my niece Brooke when she was just four years old and diagnosed with meningitis. If it was not for the Sick Kids she would not be here today."