by Lui Giacomello

THE future of hospitals in Scotland is under the spotlight as a group set up by the Scottish Executive begin their meetings in public. And UNISON will be putting forward our views.

UNISON has drawn up a 10-point plan that it believes must be satisfied before major changes are introduced. Jim Devine, UNISON's Scottish Organiser for Health told the group at the first public meeting in Glasgow,

"UNISON recognises that major changes are taking place in the Scottish Health Service and that the status quo is not an option. Not only will this change impact on communities, but will also have a major impact on the staff who are providing quality care in Scotland."

The group is led by Professor David Kerr and was formed amid massive unrest about hospital closures and the transfer & centralisation of services. Public uproar reached unprecedented levels as more than 20 hospitals in Scotland faced the prospect of closure or restructuring.

Professor Kerr called on Glasgow and other health boards to 'build bridges' with their communities and condemned a history of failures to listen to patients. The ten criteria that UNISON wants are::

* Proposed change to services must be patient/client centred.

* Change must be evidence based.

* Patient/client safety must be a key consideration

* There must be an agreed format for public involvement in decision making

* There must be an agreed format for staff involvement too.

* Service change must be affordable.

* Service change must be sustainable.

* Prior to proposed change evidence must be produced of alternative provision and resources in place before the change is implemented.

* Proposed change must be accessible to local communities. And last, but not least,

* Proposed change must be compatible with agreed Scottish strategies in relation to the specialisation of services, workforce planning, training and development.

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