GP in hospitals election fight

Dr Jean Turner said that patients feel "let down" by New Labour.

She said she will be challenging the Labour MSP Brian Fitzpatrick in his Strathkelvin and Bearsden constituency in May.

Her decision is linked to the Executive's plans to cut acute services at Stobhill Hospital in Springburn as part of a £700m reorganisation of Glasgow's hospitals.

Dr Turner said the knock-on effects of the scheme would put a further strain on hospital resources.

She said: "If Stobhill were to close prematurely, the Royal Infirmary is not able to cope with the numbers."

Dr Turner has a track record of campaigning on health issues.

She stood as a Save Stobhill candidate in the Strathkelvin and Bearsden by-election last year.

Dr Turner came second after only three weeks of campaigning.

She insisted she would be campaigning solely against the hospital proposals, but added that she believed voters were becoming disillusioned with Labour's handing of the NHS.

"Democracy has died"

Dr Turner said: "I think the people feel terribly let down by the present incumbent and I think the truth is we just feel that nobody has been listening.

"We feel democracy has died a death. People were very disillusioned after Labour got in.

"Patients were disgusted by what was going on, they couldn't believe it. They felt it was very much like the Conservative Party."

The new strategy, which has the backing of the Scottish executive, will mean two full accident and emergency units at Glasgow Royal Infirmary and the Southern General.

There will also be a £60m investment at the Victoria Infirmary and Stobhill Hospital to create two new Ambulatory Care Hospitals providing outpatient consultations and day care surgeries.

The Royal Infirmary and Gartnavel General Hospitals will also have redeveloped inpatient services while there will be a major new development at the Southern General Hospital.