Fear for hospital children's ward

Bosses at Perth Royal Infirmary say they are exploring a "range of options"

Health bosses have been warned they face a fierce campaign from locals if they decide to shut the children's ward at Perth Royal Infirmary.

NHS Tayside has admitted the unit has "operational difficulties" and it is exploring a "range of options".

Politicians have warned that the health of youngsters could be put at risk by a closure.

They pressed for the decision of any review to be revealed to local people as soon as possible.

Gerry Marr, from NHS Tayside, said: "It is true that we are experiencing some short-term operational difficulties at the children's ambulatory ward at Perth Royal Infirmary.

"This includes staffing pressures, specifically with junior doctors specialising in paediatric medicine, a situation which we are actually also seeing at Ninewells and one which is replicated across Scotland at the moment.

"To help us with this our clinical director is now looking at a whole range of options for paediatric services across Tayside."

There are obvious dangerous consequences to such a move Pete Wishart Perth and North Perthshire MP

Local politicians argued that closure should not be on the cards.

Perth councillor, Archie MacLellan, said: "It would seriously affect the most vulnerable people in this area - the children themselves and the parents, many of whom are on low incomes.

"It is vital in this area. We deal with people from as far away as Kinloch Rannoch and it's difficult enough for them travelling to Perth, to add another 20 miles to their journey just beggars belief."

Perth MSP Roseanna Cunningham added: "I have fought against the closure of the children's ward at PRI before and I am ready to do so again.

"Paediatric services at PRI have been trimmed back over the years but it would be a very big mistake indeed to close the ward altogether.

"If NHS Tayside has staffing difficulties then they must resolve them, closing the children's ward should not be an option."

Perth and North Perthshire MP Pete Wishart added: "Such a move would inevitably result in some children not getting medical attention as quickly as they can now and there are obvious dangerous consequences to such a move.

"Essential medical services should only be as centralised as they have to be and as locally based as possible."