Banning of councillors is an abuse of power

Nov 13 2008 by Our Correspondent, West Lothian Courier

I AM absolutely livid at the chairman of our health board and his directives in regard to West Lothian Councillors entering West Lothian's hospital.

In his attempt at one-upmanship with these councillors he is effectively launching a direct attack on the rights of elected politicians to carry out their statutory duties.

This is also an affront to the civil liberties of every patient in St John’s by denying them open, unfettered and private access to their democratically elected representatives, together with the singling out of patients at St John’s as opposed to any other Lothian hospital.

That this political appointee can assume to deny those paying his salary their basic human rights the minute they pass through the door of St John’s until they leave, is surely an abuse of power which must warrant an immediate and thorough investigation.

Mrs L Hamilton,

Bridgend Park,

Bathgate