Fears over cuts at Livingston children’s ward

FAMILIES claim kids are being put at risk by the closure of a children’s ward.

No night or weekend admissions have been allowed at the ward at St John’s Hospital, Livingston, since last June, leaving families instead going to Edinburgh’s Royal Hospital for Sick Children.

Now, locals are preparing a major demonstration at the hospital next Friday.

Mum Coady Dorman was left “stranded” in the early hours of the morning when her son Matthew, three, was rushed by ambulance to Edinburgh.

She said: “Because Matthew was born premature he has a weaker system and respiratory problems, a bout of croup in October left him struggling to breathe and NHS 24 sent an ambulance.

“Because he took ill at night, we were rushed to Edinburgh where he got the treatment he needed.

“At 1am, I was told he was well enough for us to go home.

“But that left me stranded in the city with no money to get home to Broxburn.”

Labour MSP Neil Findlay said the staffing situation was “completely unacceptable”, and he had been “swamped” by calls from concerned families. He said: “Our worry is that a child may die in the time it takes to get to the city hospital.”

NHS Lothian said night and weekend admissions have had to be suspended at the ward for safety reasons because of staffing issues.