A BID to see day surgical services under general anaesthetic included in the new East Lothian Community Hospital looks doomed to fail.

Work on the new £70 million hospital, to be built on the site of the existing Roodlands Hospital in Haddington, got under way this month.

READ MORE: Hospital building work set to get under way

Campaigners have been calling for the new hospital for more than a decade, but many have been left disappointed after it was revealed that the hospital would not include an accident and emergency department, a minor injuries unit or see day surgical services carried out under general anaesthetic.

One of those leading the call for more services to be included in the hospital is East Lothian MSP Iain Gray.

READ MORE: MP and MSP clash over hospital services

Speaking at Health Questions at Holyrood, the MSP again raised concerns about the decision and called on health secretary Shona Robison MSP to reconsider the move.

Mr Gray told the Courier: “However, having rubber-stamped the decision to axe day surgery under general anaesthetic at the new community hospital, Ms Robison actually tried to suggest that more local people will be treated locally at the new hospital.

“When it comes to day surgery, this is not the case and, while I welcome the start of work on the new facility, the minister cannot hide the fact that almost 2,000 patients a year will have to travel for operations they can currently have in Haddington.

“Over 1,200 local people signed a petition to retain these surgical services in Haddington and hundreds took the time to post messages outlining their reasons for so doing.

“As well as the public opposition, there was clear opposition from clinicians, some of whom took the unusual step of speaking out publicly against it, meaning Ms Robison’s suggestion it is based on clinical advice simply does not add up.

“Having waited for a new hospital for a decade longer than necessary and seeing services cut, I’m sure most East Lothian residents will regard the minister’s failure to intervene as a massive missed opportunity.”

“The Health Minister clearly felt aggrieved that I would not applaud her late delivery of a reduced hospital – the latest example of the SNP Government letting East Lothian down, leaving us at the back of the queue, and then expecting us to be grateful.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The views of local people played a key role in planning for the new community hospital, which will provide vital services to the communities of East Lothian, including bringing back a number of services which are currently delivered outside the local area.”