Facing a total wall of silence over the future of St John’s extended services

Oct 23 2008 by Our Correspondent, West Lothian Courier

I WRITE following the recent good news story regarding a new surgical unit based at St John’s Hospital, and an increase in daily patient numbers to 3000.

I decided to attend the Stakeholder Group meeting this morning (Monday October 20) to demonstrate my support and renewed confidence in healthcare provision in West Lothian.

Arriving at St John’s Hospital, where I understood the meeting was taking place, I was subjected to a wall of silence.

No one had any idea what I was talking about; no one knew where the meeting was to be held - what a fiasco!

Following numerous phone calls, I was eventually told that there was no meeting and that Lothian Health had withdrawn from this group because they did not like the way it wanted to work to achieve better health care in West Lothian.

I now see from the Edinburgh paper the 3000 extra patients is per year not daily as we have been told.

Who has been untruthful here?

Time this outfit woke up to reality, they have certainly misled me!

Why was today's meeting cancelled?

Is anyone going to be honest enough to give me an answer.

Alexis Davidson, Bathgate.