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 Chief political correspondent John Morrison"The report calls for new guidelines as a matter of urgency"  real 28k  |
MSPs angry over unit row
The unit will house mentally ill offenders
A parliamentary committee has demanded "urgent" changes in the public health consultation process after the controversy over a secure unit for dangerous patients in Glasgow.
Local people said they were being shut out of the process by Greater Glasgow Health Board while the plan for Stobhill Hospital was being considered.
Local people said they were being shut out of the process by Greater Glasgow Health Board while the plan for Stobhill Hospital was being considered.
We were astounded to find that there is no requirement on health boards to consult their local communities should they decide to build any sort of new hospital facility  |
Margaret Smith, health committee convener
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The Scottish Parliament's health committee now wants the Scottish Executive to issue new guidelines to force health boards to carry out full public consultations for new developments.
When Stobhill Hospital was chosen as the site for a secure unit for psychiatric patients - including rapists and paedophiles - there was outrage from local residents, leading to an investigation by the health committee.
A report by the committee says the process should be changed "as a matter of urgency".
Although the health board fulfilled the formal consultation requirements, the decision revealed an "alarming" lack of robust guidelines to make sure local residents are kept informed of future plans, according to the committee.
When Stobhill Hospital was chosen as the site for a secure unit for psychiatric patients - including rapists and paedophiles - there was outrage from local residents, leading to an investigation by the health committee.
A report by the committee says the process should be changed "as a matter of urgency".
Although the health board fulfilled the formal consultation requirements, the decision revealed an "alarming" lack of robust guidelines to make sure local residents are kept informed of future plans, according to the committee.
 Margaret Smith: "Committee astounded"
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The health board was criticised for allowing public concern to reach such a level that rational discussion became extremely difficult.
Announcing the report's findings, health and community care committee convener Margaret Smith said: "Other than existing planning permission procedures, we were astounded to find that there is no requirement on health boards to consult their local communities should they decide to build any sort of new hospital facility.
"Should they actually decide to close a hospital or change its use, then the only consultation guidelines in place date back to 1975.
"Neither of these arrangements are acceptable in a modern health service."
Announcing the report's findings, health and community care committee convener Margaret Smith said: "Other than existing planning permission procedures, we were astounded to find that there is no requirement on health boards to consult their local communities should they decide to build any sort of new hospital facility.
"Should they actually decide to close a hospital or change its use, then the only consultation guidelines in place date back to 1975.
"Neither of these arrangements are acceptable in a modern health service."
 Work on the unit could start this year
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She said the committee was not surprised that the lack of proper consultation by the health board had led to "much consternation from local residents".
Plans for the £12.5m secure care centre at Stobhill first emerged in 1998. They were rejected at the time for being "unsuitable" but were revived last year.
It is understood the unit will house up to 76 mentally ill offenders - about a quarter of which would come from the State Hospital at Carstairs.
Primary schools
The local community insisted these patients would represent a danger to the public and point to the fact that there are three primary schools in the vicinity of Stobhill.
Health professionals insist the threat is being overplayed and, if anything, the risk to the wider community would be reduced.
They stress that security would be high and patients would be checked every hour, visitors would be searched and a CCTV system would be in operation.
The health committee has now called for a parliamentary debate on the structure and accountability of quangos in the NHS.
Plans for the £12.5m secure care centre at Stobhill first emerged in 1998. They were rejected at the time for being "unsuitable" but were revived last year.
It is understood the unit will house up to 76 mentally ill offenders - about a quarter of which would come from the State Hospital at Carstairs.
Primary schools
The local community insisted these patients would represent a danger to the public and point to the fact that there are three primary schools in the vicinity of Stobhill.
Health professionals insist the threat is being overplayed and, if anything, the risk to the wider community would be reduced.
They stress that security would be high and patients would be checked every hour, visitors would be searched and a CCTV system would be in operation.
The health committee has now called for a parliamentary debate on the structure and accountability of quangos in the NHS.
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