CUMBERNAULD forum hits out at health minister

Cumbernauld Community Forum has received no response from Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon who they met with in May. The group presented Ms Sturgeon with a petition bearing 3,000 signatures which called called for the area’s x-ray facilities to be reinstated. The service had been controversially transferred to Monklands Hospital.

Irate forum chairman Billy Lees said: “It’s disgraceful. Nicola Sturgeon told us the machines would not be removed without her say-so but we have already heard that they have been taken away.’

And NHS Lanarkshire has confirmed that this is indeed the case – after telling us that the apparatus was removed from Central Health Centre in February.

When the News put these comments to Ms Sturgeon’s office, there was a denial that any such assurance had been made - and that these comments were not made in full view of the facts.

A Scottish Government spokesperson stated: “NHS Lanarkshire’s radiology proposals did not constitute major service change. This means it was a decision for the Board. Ms Sturgeon was happy to meet with the members of Cumbernauld Community Forum and asked NHS Lanarkshire to report on some of the key issues raised. The Board has provided Ms Sturgeon with assurances on these points.”