Due to the increased incidence of coronavirus, Covid 19, in the local community, Jackie Baillie MSP has regretfully decided to cancel the planned public meetings to defend the Out of Hours service at the Vale of Leven hospital.

The numbers of people infected with coronavirus is increasing at a rapid rate and that, coupled with the ban on large gatherings, has led to the decision to cancel the meetings that were due to take place on Friday 27 March in Helensburgh and Monday 30 March in Dumbarton.

Instead, Jackie is planning to meet with the Cabinet Secretary for Health to ensure that the Out Of Hours service is supported and that local GPs are given the means to restart and deliver the service locally.

Jackie Baillie said:

“It is with real regret that I have to cancel the two planned public meetings to defend the Out of Hours service at the Vale of Leven hospital, but the situation with coronavirus is too serious and I do not want to risk spreading the infection.

“I know that many of the people who would have been attending the public meetings have underlying health conditions, some might be older, and many are likely to be healthcare workers, so the risk of infection and its consequences, would be too great.

“I will however continue the fight to reinstate our Out of Hours service and have a meeting organised with the Cabinet Secretary for Health to ensure that the efforts of our local GPs is supported at the very highest level.

“Let’s keep the pressure up on NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, who have so far singularly failed to sustain our services at the Vale of Leven hospital, and I would encourage local people to sing my petition at https://jackiebaillie.laboursites.org/reverse-the-closure-of-vale-of-leven-out-of-hours-gp-service-at-evenings-weekends/”