RUMBLES WELCOMES POSITIVE PLASTIC SURGERY TALKS

3.45.00pm GMT Fri 5th Feb 2010

West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine MSP Mike Rumbles today said he was pleased after holding "constructive" talks with NHS Grampian on controversial proposals to downsize Aberdeen's Plastic Surgery & Burns Unit by 40%.

Mr Rumbles was contacted earlier this month by consultants at the Unit who are opposed to the plans.

The unit undertakes complex reconstruction of cancer cases, trauma cases and burns as well as work in areas such as hand surgery, breast reconstruction, and head and neck surgery for patients in Grampian, Moray, Orkney, Shetland and Caithness.

Commenting after meeting with representatives of NHS Grampian in Aberdeen today Mr Rumbles said:

"These were constructive talks and I am pleased that the management at NHS Grampian realise that this whole issue has not been handled well.

"It was clear from these talks that lessons have been learned and that NHS Grampian is now keen to work with the clinicians at the Plastic Surgery & Burns Unit to work through these issues.

"They have given me an assurance that the number of consultants at the Unit will not be reduced and that they are committed to retaining the high levels of service."

A parliamentary motion lodged by Mr Rumbles calling on NHS Grampian to revise the plans has received cross-party support from MSPs.