X-ray clinics face axe

At time of going to press, the health board admitted that locally based radiology provision may cease in both locations.

The move will result in patients having to travel to out-of-the-way locations to receive treatment in a move which has sparked a consultation process between the health board and Cumbernauld Community Forum.

Councillor Gordon Murray was more forthcoming - and has already written to NHS Lanarkshire's director Colin Sloey. The veteran councillor believes that health chiefs have moved the goalposts.

"We were promised that when the existing X-ray equipment in our Central Health Centre became past its useful life, it would be replaced by up-to-date equipment which would be directly connected to a hospital where it could be examined by a consultant," he said.

"He or she would then determine whether it was essential for the patient to be taken to the hospital for treatment or whether the problem could be handled conveniently in Central Health Centre.

"We have now been told that there is to be no X-ray facility locally," he added.

MSP Cathie Craigie has also voiced her concern and intends to have crunch talks with NHS Lanarkshire this week

"Community x-ray facilities are fundamentally important and it would be deeply troubling if services in Cumbernauld and Kilsyth were scrapped, or moved elsewhere," she said.

"My constituents do not want to travel across Lanarkshire or into Glasgow.

"I will seek answers to this worrying development and urge that these vital services remain in place," added Mrs Craigie.

A spokesperson for NHS Lanarkshire said: "As part of a review of radiology equipment across Lanarkshire, we are reviewing the provision of community x-ray facilities in Cumbernauld and Kilsyth.

"The first meeting to examine possible options was held on Friday March 12 with members of the community forum in attendance.

"We will continue to work closely with them throughout the review to identify the best way to provide radiology services for Lanarkshire."