THE SCOTTISH Government has been rapped by information watchdogs for refusing to respond to Freedom of Information requests on the future of the birthing unit at the Vale of Leven Hospital.
The Reporter can reveal that the Scottish Information Commissioner has upheld a complaint from MSP Jackie Baillie after the SNP Government fell foul of transparency laws.
In December last year the Labour MSP asked government ministers to provide a list of dates when the SNP Health Secretary, Shona Robison, met officials from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to discuss the proposals to close the local birthing unit.
Ms Baillie also asked for copies of all the documents the Scottish Government holds relating to maternity services at the Vale.
Under Freedom of Information public bodies have a legal responsibility to respond to the request within 20 days but it took the SNP Government more than four months to respond.
When the Scottish Government finally responded to the request last week, officials confirmed that the Health Secretary met with the health board on three occasions between June and December last year to discuss the birthing unit. However, the SNP Government refused to provide copies of any documents with details on the proposed closure- or the promotion of the birthing unit at the Vale of Leven Hospital.
The formal response said that it is “essential for Scottish Government officials to be able to communicate, often in confidence, with stakeholders, such as NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, on a range of issues, including the promotion of the Vale of Leven Community Maternity Unit.”
Ms Baillie said: “The SNP’s utter disregard for transparency and openness is an insult to all local residents who are concerned about the future of key services at the Vale of Leven Hospital. The Scottish Government has spent over four months desperately trying to avoid answering basic questions about local maternity services. The Health Secretary clearly does not want local people to know what her officials are saying during their secret talks with the health board.
“I will now be lodging a further appeal to ensure that the SNP Government publishes all the information it holds in full. If they have nothing to hide then the SNP will surely have no problem with lifting the veil of secrecy on cuts at the Vale.”
In response a Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Our national review of maternity and neonatal services was published at the end of January and NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde have made clear that they’re currently considering their proposals for the birthing units at Inverclyde and the Vale in light of the review’s recommendations. We await the conclusion of the Board’s considerations.
“It remains the case that should any proposal that comes from the board amount to major service change then it must be subject to formal public consultation and, ultimately, Ministerial decision.”
Article originally published by Dumbarton Reporter
