Local MSP Jackie Baillie expressed disappointment after NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde left the Vale of Leven Hospital out of its plans to spend millions of pounds on upgrading hospitals.

The health board has announced £83 million of capital investment but the Vale of Leven Hospital will not benefit from any funding to refurbish and redevelop hospital buildings. Instead, the capital plan published at last week’s health board meeting shows the money will be spent on Gartnavel, Glasgow Dental Hospital, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Inverclyde Royal Hospital, the QUEH and Stobhill.

This is despite calls over many years from local health campaigners for more capital investment in infrastructure and the fabric of the buildings at the Vale. A number of operations were cancelled in April after the heating system broke down, prompting Jackie Baillie to demand investment in the facilities at the Vale.

The health board still has a further £7 million in its capital budget which has not been earmarked for other projects and Jackie Baillie is calling for this money to be spent on upgrading the infrastructure at the Vale of Leven Hospital.

Jackie said:

“Yet again the Vale of Leven Hospital has been overlooked by health board bosses in favour of other hospitals in Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Local campaigners have been crying out for investment in the fabric of the building at the Vale of Leven Hospital and they have been completely ignored.

“NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde should commit to spending the £7 million left in the pot on refurbishing the Vale of Leven Hospital. Anything less would send a signal to the local community that the Vale is seen as a second-class hospital by the health board