Pressure Over A&E Services

Dunfermline man fears lives are being put at risk as a result of QMH being without an A&E unit.

A petition calling for A&E services to be returned to the Queen Margaret Hospital has secured more than 28,000 signatures.

Campaigners claim lives could be put at risk due to the extra miles patients across west Fife have to travel.

James Philp is behind the campaign:

 

An NHS Fife spokesperson said:

"The Chief Executive has previously advised that he would be happy to meet with Mr Philp in relation to his outstanding concerns, and has extended an invitation accordingly. We have not yet had a response from Mr Philp.

"It is important to note that the decision to move to a major single-site A&E department allows NHS Fife to deliver services to the population at sustainable and clinically safe levels of staffing. Moreover, and crucially, it also ensures that those 
most in need of urgent medical help are seen rapidly and in a department that is able to respond both safely and immediately to their most critical needs. 

"By moving A&E services, the health board has been able to expand the availability of senior medical cover on site - this is a significant step forward and a benefit that would have been impossible to maintain over two sites."

Health Secretary Alex Neil will visit Queen Margaret Hospital today to discuss the matter. He's also expected to take questions on staffing levels. Problems recruiting locum staff has led to a rise in waiting lists.