Health Minister calls for innovation amid A&E reform row
The Scottish Executive’s Health Minister, Andy Kerr, yesterday called on the NHS to be more innovative in its provision of patient care amid a row over plans to down-scale accident and emergency facilities.
NHS Ayrshire and Arran announced on Wednesday that inpatient services were to be reformed, with A&E services moved to Crosshouse hospital in Kilmarnock and “community casualty units” set up in Girvan, Cumnock and Irvine.
Tory MSP for Ayr, John Scott, has vowed to fight the plans “tooth and nail” and Mr Kerr said he would look carefully at the final plans.
The Health Minister said that ministers wanted to see services “as local as possible and as specialised as necessary”.
“The NHS should be looking at new and innovative ways to deliver care which is better for patients,” he added.
