[3] In 2004 Inverclyde Royal Hospital faced proposals for a major downsizing with the loss of the accident and emergency department and the acute surgical ward in an effort to save costs.

[5] In February 2007, after undertaking a review, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde proposed retaining the accident and emergency department and core inpatient services, including the trauma and emergency medical departments at Inverclyde Royal Hospital and submitted this proposal to the Scottish Government for approval.

[6] The then Scottish Health Minister, Andy Kerr, approved the proposal[7] which was supported by people in the local area.

[6] However, as outlined in the document entitled "A Safe and Sustainable Future for Hospital Services in Inverclyde and Renfrewshire", certain services including dermatology, the ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) Unit, urology and vascular surgery were relocated to the Southern General Hospital in summer 2007.

The hospital radio broadcasts as much as 44 hours of live programming, a sustaining service where necessary and also commentary for the local senior team, Greenock Morton, who are also a major sponsor.