South Ayrshire Council is set to challenge NHS Ayrshire and Arran on the consultation currently under way on the provision of Accident and Emergency services at Ayr Hospital.

Councillors unanimously agreed at a full meeting of the Council, to call on NHS Ayrshire and Arran to rethink the options on which it is currently carrying out consultation - and to include an option of an "enhanced status quo."

At the same time the Council agreed to press the health board to extend the period of time allowed for consultation on its proposals which relate to a relocation of services to Crosshouse Hospital.

The decision was made after it was pointed out to the Council meeting that neither of the two Models currently being consulted on, if implemented, would allow for the continued provision of full Accident and Emergency services at Ayr Hospital.

Said the Leader of the Council, Councillor Andy Hill: "It was quite clear that all the elected members have real concern about the threat that is facing Ayr Hospital, particularly in relation to Accident and Emergency services.

"The options currently being consulted on relate to the provision of a fully equipped emergency facility at Crosshouse Hospital, with a Community Casualty Facility at Ayr Hospital, or alternatively also with a Medical and Surgical Assessment Unit on the Ayr site.

"Clearly all Councillors are appreciative of the difficulties that will be faced by many people, both as patients and as relatives of patients, in travelling to Crosshouse Hospital. This is likely to be particularly severe in the case of people who live in the southern half of South Ayrshire and who will face unacceptable travel problems."

At the meeting, Councillor Hill explained that the Council had previously decided to defer taking any decision on the NHS Ayrshire and Arran proposals until the health board had completed a full consultation exercise, however having attended public meetings he was aware that the public did not want the Accident and Emergency Unit at Ayr to close.

A motion by Councillor Hugh Hunter, inviting the Council to call for NHS Ayrshire and Arran to broaden the number of Models being consulted on, prior to a final decision being taken on the future provision of unscheduled care, to include a Model which featured "Enhanced Status Quo" was unanimously agreed, with a request to the health board that the period of time allowed for consultation should be extended.

November 2005