I AM INCREASINGLY concerned that we have reached a crunch point for local health services.

Last month, I was contacted by GP practices from areas including Gullane, North Berwick and Tranent.

Due to cash pressures caused by the SNP Government, Lothian Health Board is facing a £120 million shortfall. It will have to find savings or additional revenues of £10 million a month.

This means the board will be increasing GP facility management charges by as much as nine to 11 times – leading potentially to a reduction in GP numbers and, therefore, patient appointments in our already jam-packed surgeries.

NHS Lothian are also looking at very worrying cuts, which will undoubtedly impact patient care. Some treatments and procedures could be withdrawn entirely at NHS hospitals, and we already know the consequences locally are very bad.

Last week, the local health and social care partnership and Integrated Joint Board (IJB) announced the permanent closure of in-patient services at the Edington and The Abbey in North Berwick, and Belhaven Hospital and Blossom House in Dunbar. This is a bad decision and I oppose it. But it follows a pattern of centralisation which lies at the heart of the SNP Government’s approach to the NHS.

The IJB will justify its decision by pointing to East Lothian Community Hospital in Haddington. But health bosses fail to understand that, for those without a car, bus services can be too long and infrequent, and taxis too expensive.

East Lothian has a growing population and increasing number of older people.

It is wrong to be cutting in-patient services and undermining GP services with higher internal charges.

I will continue to press the case for patients and NHS staff. But, sadly, SNP ministers are simply not listening.