Health Chief's Blatant Use of 'Divide And Conquer' Tactics

SSP Glenrothes Press Release 03.12.2001
Glenrothes SSP renewed their charge that NHS officials in Fife are using a divide and conquer tactic to claim support for centralising acute hospital services. The allegation was repeated after NHS Fife Chief Executive Tony Ranzetta was quoted in the Fife Free Press as saying that the dissent shown by Dunfermline residents could force a rethink of plans to centralise acute services in the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy.

"It's unbelievable," said Jock Penman, SSP Regional Organiser for Fife and Mid-Scotland. "A few days ago Mr Ranzetta denied he was trying to divide and conquer, then he makes a statement which is obviously intended to make it clear that the future of health care in Fife will be decided by a shouting match between East and West Fife. The strength of arguments from all over Fife presents an undeniable case for the retention of full services at BOTH hospitals."

The SSP claim that by forcing residents of East and West Fife to fight for the centralisation services in the Victoria and Queen Margaret hospitals respectively, NHS Fife were covering up an important fact. The fact is, they say, that the Right For Fife survey showed that the vast majority of Fifers are against centralisation of services.

Mr Penman added,

"The use of the word 'centralisation' on the surface sounds positive, but to most Fifers it means longer travelling times to attend appointments. In emergencies, it means that lives could be at risk. The people of Fife are against centralisation of acute services in the manner proposed, as it merely represents cost-cutting measures. What we want are life saving measures."

The SSP further claimed that the strain upon hospital services was being compounded by the fact that the waiting time for a GP appointment meant that Accident and Emergency was frequently the first port of call for relatively minor ailments.

"The Right For Fife proposals do nothing to relieve this strain", Jock Penman explained. "The Right For Fife proposals rely heavily on already overworked GP’s practices taking on an even greater workload."

The SSP reasserted their opinion that NHS Fife should be demanding funding from the government to allow staffing increases and improved working conditions for everyone employed in Fife's health sector. That, they say, is the only way that the present crisis can be prevented from becoming an outright disaster.