DUMBARTON'S MSP has expressed concerns over the possible presence of RAAC within the town's health centre.

Jackie Baille's fears come after a report compiled by NHS Scotland Assure and published in July this year shows the town’s health centre as one of the sites within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde being surveyed as part of the RAAC Discovery Survey Programme.

There are also eight sections of the Royal Alexandra Hospital, including the main entrance and the Intensive Therapy Unit (ITU) within the Paisley facility’s A&E department, identified as potentially containing RAAC.

Ms Baillie has urged the Scottish Government to act quickly to ensure that patients and staff are safe in the facilities and that work can progress quickly to provide a permanent fix.

The MSP has already backed a move for Dumbarton Health Centre to be moved to the newly-developed town centre.

Jackie Baillie said: “It is of concern that RAAC has been identified as possibly being present within Dumbarton Health Centre.

“Both the SNP Government and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde must work quickly to ensure that patients and staff are safe and urgently put in mitigation measures if required.

“This report which has now come to light was published in July. We are almost in October. Why has the Scottish Government taken so long to act to take this seriously? 

“This strengthens the argument that Dumbarton Health Centre should be rebuilt and moved to the centre of the town. We need the Scottish Government and Health Board to allocate resources to make this happen.

“In addition, the hospital where people from Dumbarton, the Vale of Leven, Helensburgh and Lomond go for emergency care is also suspected to contain RAAC. The RAH is an important site for healthcare for local people and it must be safe for patients to attend.

“I have already raised my worries about RAAC within healthcare settings with the SNP Government and I seek further assurances that swift action is now being taken to address this.”