A CAMPAIGNER who has attracted 30,000 signatures to bring A&E services back to Queen Margaret Hospital is set to hold further discussions with health chiefs over the issue next month.

In March, the Press reported that Jim Philp (62) launched his campaign after expressing his belief that lives are being put at risk due to the additional miles that patients across West Fife have to travel for treatment at Kirkcaldy’s Victoria Hospital.

His fight has been backed with a huge groundswell of support, with more than 27,000 people signing paper copies of the petition in addition to a further 3000 online.

Mr Philp attended NHS Fife’s annual review in July to quiz cabinet secretary for health Alex Neil and health bosses over the issue but although there appeared to be little encouragement over a re-think, he is set to meet NHS Fife chair Allan Burns to discuss the matter.

He said, “At the annual review, we didn’t see eye-to-eye but outside afterwards Mr Burns asked if I had the petition.

"I said yes and at that point an old lady said to me that she wanted to sign it and I told him that I don’t need to ask people to do so.

"I said to him that he should read some of the concerns from people online, which he did, and I received an acknowledgement through email from his secretary.

"He asked if we could have a meeting to discuss the issues and see the petition, which will happen at the end of next month.

“It appeared to be a lost cause at the annual review but I’m not going to give up. We should have the same access to treatment as they do on the other side of the county and it doesn’t make sense to pass a hospital to go another 15 miles if you’re undergoing treatment for a heart attack or stroke.

"People should have access to the closest available hospital and I’ll keep chipping away at it. I won’t give up.” During the annual review, Mr Burns commented that “part of the challenge that we have is much of the demand for A&E can be met by minor injury units and we don’t use them as effectively.” But Mr Philp added, “They’re feeding clinics to the Queen Margaret and people from the east will need to get there for minor injuries.

"They’ll have the same problem; someone from Methil who travels to Kirkcaldy and then finds out they have to go to Queen Margaret won’t be very happy.

"Fife is a very long county whereas in places like Stirling or Larbert it is more circular and easier to centralise services.” A spokesperson for NHS Fife said, “At the NHS Fife Annual Review on 29th July, board chairman Allan Burns made a commitment to Mr Philp that his petition would be formally accepted at an upcoming meeting of the NHS Fife Board.

“Our board secretary made contact with Mr Philp on the day following the Annual Review to advise that the petition could be brought to either the August or October meeting of the board.

“Mr Philp has subsequently indicated his willingness to handover the petition at the NHS Fife board meeting on 28th October.”