Healthboard 'U-turn over cut to Vale bus'

Jackie Baillie MSP 'over the moon at 11th hour move'

- STAFF REPORTER

MSP Jackie Baillie has welcomed an “eleventh hour health board U-turn” over the 340 hospital bus link service.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde had announced plans to axe the service and replace it with an in-house transport service for patients and staff only.

But after crunch talks with Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie, she has said the board will now permit visitors to use their replacement service.

The previous 340 bus service, operated by McColl’s, was axed by the board on Saturday.

It had earlier been announced that the service, which called at Helensburgh, Dumbarton and the Vale of Leven Hospital on the way to Paisley’s Royal Alexandra, would end.

Instead, a new free service has been created, departing from the Vale of Leven Hospital and travelling directly to the RAH for patients and staff only.

Despite appeals from community organisations and MSP Jackie, also Scottish Labour's Health & Social Care spokesperson, the health board refused to back down.