HELENSBURGH'S MSP has urged First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and health secretary Shona Robison to be honest with residents over the future of the Vale of Leven Hospital.

Jackie Baillie made the plea this week after a senior doctor admitted that the hospital was “demoralised” by a series of cuts, and threatened cuts, in local health services.

Dr Tricia Clarke spoke out just days after retiring following 26 years as consultant haematologist at the Vale – and after NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde confirmed that the number of haematology clinics at the Vale is to be reduced from 19 to 12.

Speaking alongside Ms Baillie at a press conference on Monday, Dr Clark said NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde had made no effort to fill her post on a permanent basis – despite knowing for a year that she would be retiring.

Dr Clarke said: “I informed them a year ago that I would probably be leaving and there has been no reasoned attempt to fill the post.

“It is now to be filled by three locums.

“The service is now likely to be more disjointed and risks offering poor continuity of care for patients.”

Dr Clarke said the board's failure to recruit a permanent replacement had left both patients and staff fearing for the future of both the haematology department and other services provided at the Vale.

She added: “It's hard telling patients you're leaving and you can't guarantee their future or even say who the service is being handed over to.

“That's a very uncertain period for patients who are already sick, and often scared.

“Staff are suffering from uncertainty. They are absolutely dedicated to maintaining the service come what may, but you have to work additional hours just to fill the gaps – otherwise it's patients who fall into those gaps.

“I think the hospital as a whole is somewhat demoralised by it all.”

Ms Baillie, meanwhile, called on Jane Grant, who started work this week as NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde's new chief executive, to turn the tide of service cuts at the local hospital.

Ms Baillie said: “My plea to the chief executive is that she should stop the cuts, look at the opportunities at the Vale and turn the tide.

“Failing that, we are looking to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and the First Minister to intervene and ensure the future of the hospital is very bright indeed.

“I implore them to recognise the importance of the hospital and to be honest with people about what the future is for the Vale.”

On the threat to haematology services at the Vale, a spokesperson for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “We would like to give the assurance that all patients currently receiving treatment there will continue to do so.

“A haematology consultant has recently left our employment but until this post is filled, we will ensure that patients are seen by locum specialist haematology staff at VOL on the days the service currently operates.

“The outpatient clinic at VOL will continue, as will day case services, which are provided on a Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

“We are happy to meet with any patient who has concerns and offer them reassurance that the service will continue to be provided.”

Health secretary Shona Robison said she's been given an assurance that "no patient" at the Vale will be adversely affected by the revamp of haematology services.

She said: "The board has given an assurance that no patient at the Vale will be adversely affected by the service re-design, which has been undertaken to ensure the best use of staff.

"The service will continue to be delivered locally in the same way."