AYR'S MSP has accused her political opponents of “a deliberate attempt at scaremongering” after a petition was launched to try and reverse plans to cut bed numbers at Ayr Hospital.

Siobhian Brown was speaking after Sharon Dowey, a Conservative MSP for the South Scotland region, launched the petition in response to health chiefs’ announcement that two dozen beds at Station 10 in University Hospital Ayr are to close.

Bosses at NHS Ayrshire and Arran insist the move will restore ‘pre-Covid’ capacity at the site and will free up staff.

Launching her petition while Humza Yousaf was still health secretary, prior to his election as SNP leader and First Minister, Ms Dowey said: “Reducing the number of hospital beds for patients is a disgrace, especially when our NHS is already in crisis.

“Humza Yousaf has been caught breaking his word to the people of Ayrshire.

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“He personally promised me that local health services would not be reduced.

“Cutting the number of beds and closing a ward is unacceptable. The SNP Government must intervene and reverse this decision. People across Ayrshire deserve to know there will be a hospital bed available if they need it.”

Ms Brown, however, insisted that removing the beds was the best move for the safety of patients and the welfare of staff.

She said: “The Scottish Conservatives take every opportunity they can to criticise how NHS operations are run and this is no different. This time it is a deliberate attempt at scaremongering.

"These beds were only ever a temporary measure and cannot be safely staffed. Patient safety and staff welfare is paramount. It is as simple as that.

“They were opened to cope with the demand brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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"These beds were only ever a temporary measure and cannot be safely staffed. Patient safety and staff welfare is paramount. It is as simple as that.

“They were opened to cope with the demand brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It is now time for this legacy ward to close, as will the others across Ayrshire. Staff have worked hard to cover additional beds and I am grateful for their efforts however operations must move to a more sustainable system.

"The removal of these beds means less pressure on staff and a better patient-to-healthcare worker ratio.

"Staff will be relocated elsewhere as there are many vacancies across NHS Ayrshire and Arran."

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Labour MSP Colin Smyth, who also represents the South Scotland region, blamed the move on lack of government funding rather than a lack of demand.

He said: "“The A&E target at Ayr Hospital has not been met for two years; delayed discharge in South Ayrshire has almost doubled in the past year; and NHS Ayrshire and Arran has reported capacity levels of 100 per cent at Ayr hospital.

“Will the cabinet secretary accept that those cuts in bed numbers are nothing to do with a lack of demand or need, but are due to a lack of funding?

“NHS Ayrshire and Arran’s deficit is set to double to an eye-watering £56 million this year.”