Patients and campaigners at the Vale of Leven Hospital cannot trust Nicola Sturgeon after the SNP Government approved plans to close the children’s ward at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.

That was the message from local MSP Jackie Baillie today as she questioned Health Secretary Shona Robison on the decision in the Scottish Parliament.

Shona Robison faced fierce criticism from the Dumbarton MSP for agreeing the closure of the children’s ward despite Nicola Sturgeon’s denial that such proposals existed before the election.

Nicola Sturgeon visited West Dunbartonshire just weeks before the election and made similar promises to stick to the Vision for the Vale and protect local health services in Dumbarton, Vale of Leven and Helensburgh.

Speaking at the Scottish Parliament today, Jackie said:

“There is no getting away from the fact that the First Minister was asked in a TV debate whether the children’s ward at the RAH would close.

“And she was clear, she would not close that ward. And the cabinet secretary knows that there were proposals to close the ward before May 2016.

“The First Minister has of course given similar commitments to my local community about the Vale of Leven Hospital. This is fundamentally a question of trust, and the key question for me is whether we can trust anything that the First Minister tells us.”

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