Hospital chiefs have been warned they face huge resistance if plotting to downgrade intensive care services.
We told last week of internal fears surrounding the unit at Ayr, sparked by looming shortages in anaesthetic staff.
One whistleblower has even claimed the service could shift up the A77 to Crosshouse.
NHS bosses, who admitted critical care was “under review,” have denied any closure plans.
And one politician has insisted they must stick to their word.
South Scotland MSP, Tory Brian Whittle, said: “I welcome NHS Ayrshire & Arran’s reassurance that there are no plans to centralise intensive care services, but the reports of potential staff shortfalls are concerning.
“This isn’t the first time we’ve seen health boards struggling to recruit and retain specialist staff in recent years and much of the fault lies with the Scottish Government’s failure to think about the NHS’s future staff needs.
“While there can sometimes be benefits to centralising particular specialities at one hospital to create a centre of excellence, an intensive care unit should be a core department for any hospital the size of Ayr.
“It wasn’t that long ago that my colleague John Scott MSP led the fight to protect Ayr’s Accident and Emergency Department with a huge amount of support from locals.
“I have no doubt that if NHS Ayrshire & Arran were to seriously propose closing Ayr’s intensive care unit, it would meet with just as much resistance from the public.”
Medical director, Crawford McGuffie, last week denied insider claims that Crosshouse was being lined up as a ‘super-unit’ for intensive care in Ayrshire.
And Mr Whittle added: “There’s no question that the demands being placed on NHS services is changing and growing and that health boards need to adapt to meet these changes.
“Sometimes that might mean making a difficult decision, but I could not support proposals which compromise Ayr Hospital’s ability to provide key services.”
