Tories' petition to 'save beds' at Ayr Hospital is 'scaremongering' tactic

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Ayr MSP Siobhian Brown has urged constituents to be cautious over a Conservative MSP’s petition to save beds at Ayr Hospital.The campaign, by South Scotland Conservative List MSP, Sharon Dowey, comes after NHS Ayrshire & Arran chiefs announced in March that Station 10 was set to close, restoring pre-covid level bed numbers at Ayr hospital.NHS Ayrshire & Arran stated the beds were only ever a temporary operating model and now cannot be sustained or operated safely.However, despite reassurances and clarity from NHS chiefs the petition has surfaced in the past week.SNP MSP Ms Brown said: “The Scottish Conservatives take every opportunity they can to criticise how NHS operations are run and this is no different.“This time it is a deliberate attempt at scaremongering.

These beds were only ever a temporary measure and cannot be safely staffed. Patient safety and staff welfare is paramount. It is as simple as that.”The Ayrshire Live app is available to download now.Get all the local news in your area – plus features, football news and the latest on the coronavirus crisis – at your fingertips 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories while you can customise your page with the sections that matter to you.The Ayrshire Live app is available to download now on iOS and Android.MSP Sharon Dowey previously stated in March to then Health Secretary Humza Yousaf that reducing the number of hospital beds for patients was “a disgrace,”Ms Dowey also claimed that Mr Yousaf “personally promised” her that local health services would not be reduced and said the future First Minister had “broken his word” to the people of Ayrshire.However, Ms Brown said: “The wards were opened to cope with the demand brought