First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has vowed to secure the future of the Vale of Leven Hospital for many decades to come on a visit to Alexandria this morning.
The SNP politician visited Dumbarton and the Vale earlier today on the campaign trail with local candidate Toni Giugliano, who will be looking to take the party’s first victory in Dumbarton since the creation of the current Scottish Parliament.
Just 109 votes separated the SNP’s Gail Robertson from Labour’s Jackie Baillie in 2016, making the seat one of the closest in the country.
And during her visit, the First Minister - who visited new homes in Talisman Road in Dumbarton before travelling to the Vale - outlined that the local hospital would be one of her key priorities.
She said: “It’s really important that we protect this local hospital, as capital investment plans help us to refurbish community maternity facilities, theatres and pharmacies. We have big plans to secure the future of the Vale well into the years and decades to come. But it needs a strong local champion, and I’m absolutely convinced that’s what Toni will provide.”
Last week the SNP pledged to refurbish the Vale of Leven Hospital if re-elected next month.
The Alexandria facility would undergo the work “over the next decade of investment”, according to the party’s manifesto.
Candidate Toni Giugliano said he was “absolutely delighted” with the announcement, while Labour candidate Jackie Baillie argued it “could be nothing more than a lick of paint”.
Mr Giugliano said: “This is a huge commitment to our communities. For too long politicians have portrayed the hospital as vulnerable for narrow political gain – today’s announcement sets in stone its long-term future.
“The SNP has created 15 new services at the Vale since 2015 – and today’s news reinforces our commitment to the Vale.”
Labour’s Ms Baillie added: “If this was money for new equipment such as scanners or to bring new services to the Vale of Leven hospital expanding what is available for local people, then I would welcome this announcement wholeheartedly.
“But the reality is that this money is for building work and could be for nothing more than a lick of paint.”
