A LOCAL councillor has slammed a decision to remove crucial treatment services from a health centre in Bridge of Weir.
Conservative councillor James MacLaren claims he has been contacted by “angry residents” who have complained about the removal of the treatment room at Strathgyffe Medical Centre.
The room is used for patients who require regular injections including B12, or dressings and medications.
According to the councillor, residents now face having to travel to Linwood for such treatments.
Calling for an urgent re-think of the “centralisation” of key services from Renfrewshire’s Health and Social Care Partnership, James says it will have a “detrimental impact” impact on elderly and vulnerable patients.
Councillor MacLaren said: “The decision to remove those treatments from the medical centre in Bridge of Weir is completely misguided.
“Local residents who require regular injections or other treatments are understandably angry at now being forced to travel to Linwood to do so.I share their anger. This centralisation of services is completely wrong and local health board chiefs must urgently re-think this decision.
“This will have a detrimental impact on elderly and vulnerable patients in Bridge of Weir in particular. For those who don’t drive, it will have an even greater impact and may put them off going for appointments, which is deeply concerning.
“The engagement with patients over this decision has clearly not been good enough, given the reaction from local residents.
“Bridge of Weir residents should have access to these sort of appointments at Strathgyffe Medical Centre and I will continue to fight for that to be the case moving forward.”
A spokesperson for Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) said: "We are aware of the issue at Strathgryffe Medical Practice, and we are working hard to identify a solution.
"Under the new GP contract introduced by the Scottish Government, the responsibility for treatment room services is now delivered by local HSCPs. We have set up a number of new treatment rooms across Renfrewshire to support this.
"Strathgryffe Practice had been providing these services on an interim basis while several NHSGGC premises were being refurbished. Unfortunately, Strathgryffe Practice can no longer accommodate the HSCP due to capacity pressures in delivering services to their patients.
"We understand the challenges regarding transport links from Bridge of Weir to Linwood, and we acknowledge that this situation is not ideal for residents. We will continue to provide updates to the affected patients as well as Councillor MacLaren."
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