Strathkelvin and Bearsden MSP promises to 'fight tooth and nail' for service

The SNP MSPs Rona Mackay (Strathkelvin and Bearsden), Bob Doris (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) and Ivan McKee (Glasgow Provan) made the case for an outpatient clinic to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde chief executive Robert Calderwood.

They joined long-running health campaigner Tom Herbert to advise of the “desperate” need for cancer treatments to be provided at the hospital – with patients from East Dunbartonshire and North Glasgow currently being forced to make the tiring and stressful journey to the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre.

Ms Mackay said: “We acknowledge that the Beatson will always be the centre of excellence for certain cancers and stages of the disease, but we stressed that equality of local care provision for patients was not being met at present.

“This facility is available at the New Victoria Hospital on the south side of Glasgow, which has an identical catchment area and demographic.

“While Mr Calderwood was not positive about his resolve to progress this facility, citing lack of clinical facilities such as an aseptic pharmacy at Stobhill, we now know a lot more about how we can move forward with the campaign.

“I will fight tooth and nail to get accessible treatment for my constituents and am currently researching ways of achieving the funding that is needed to make Stobhill fit for purpose. This facility should have been built in to the hospital from the start, but we are where we are and the campaign will continue.”