Scottish Labour will promise to deliver a trauma centre for Aberdeen when it launches its manifesto this week, the Press and Journal can reveal.
Kezia Dugdale’s party say its clear commitment to establish the centres in each of Scotland’s four biggest cities is at odds with the SNP’s “weasel words”.
The SNP pledged a “major trauma network” for Scotland, “utilising sites in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, and Glasgow” in its manifesto published last week.
Labour claim that is an admission the north-east will not get its own trauma centre at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
Labour candidate for Aberdeen Central and the North East region, Lewis Macdonald, said: “Aberdeen and the north-east cannot be overlooked and end up with a second class NHS.
“Doctors and patients have already spoken out about their concerns if the north-east misses out on new major trauma centres.
“A Labour Scottish Government will commit to major trauma centres in Aberdeen and Dundee and make good on the promise that was made, and broken, by the SNP.”
The Scottish Liberal Democrats and the Scottish Conservatives are also committed to developing a trauma centre in the Granite City.
In 2014, the SNP’s then health secretary Alex Neil said four new major trauma centres would be set up Dundee, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow by the end of 2016.
Shona Robison, who is now in charge of the brief, said earlier this year there was disagreement between doctors over the viability of regional centres.
Doctors raised fears last month the trauma centres would only be built in the Central Belt, but some clinicians say pooling medical expertise in centralised centres is more important than having regional ones.
The Scottish Labour manifesto will be unveiled tomorrow, just eight days before the election on May 5.
Ms Dugdale yesterday visited Craigmillar Pharmacy in Edinburgh to announce Labour’s policy to bring in universal access to the minor ailments service, which allows people to get advice and treatment from community pharmacists.
