Overnight closure to continue at Kirkcaldy A & E
The accident and emergency department at Kirkcaldy's Victoria Hospital is to close overnight for the rest of the week.
- By Aileen Robertson
- Published in the Courier : 19.05.10
- Published online : 19.05.10 @ 11.02am
The department was downgraded to a minor injuries unit between 8pm on Monday and 8am on Tuesday because of a shortage of doctors.
It was the first time the contingency plan to shut the unit overnight was implemented, having been approved by the health board's operational division in November.
An NHS Fife spokeswoman said, "The contingency plan will be continually under review but it is expected to be in place until at least next Monday.
"It is possible that the contingency plan may also be invoked over further weekends."
European working time regulations have been blamed for the closures.
Because doctors' working hours have been restricted, NHS Fife said it had been unable to staff A & E around the clock.
The board added that restrictions on recruiting locums from abroad had added to staffing problems.
NHS Fife confirmed that ambulances were diverted to A & E at Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline, from as early as 5pm.
"Deplorable" plan
The spokeswoman said, "The contingency plans prepared by NHS Fife are a response to circumstances where clinical staffing difficulties mean that it is not possible to provide for medical admissions overnight at the Victoria Hospital.
"This is because of unexpected junior doctor absence and the unavailability of locum cover."
She added, "As part of a planned, phased change in clinical activity, 999 ambulances were diverted to Queen Margaret Hospital by 5pm, except for patients in cardiac arrest and paediatric patients."
Independent councillor Andrew Rodger reacted angrily to the A & E closure.
Mr Rodger, who is adamant that NHS Fife intends to close down ward 13 at Victoria Hospital, claimed the closure was no coincidence.
However, NHS Fife said the implementation of the contingency plan was "not related in any way at all" to ward 13.
Mr Rodger said, "It all fits into a pattern. This is linked to the closure of ward 13. If they are closing accident and emergency and not taking any medical admissions, that would justify them closing ward 13.
"I find that absolutely deplorable."
He added, "NHS Fife has to come clean on ward 13 because staff are telling me loud and clear that it's closing."
Fife is to have only one A & E department in the long term. When the new wing at Victoria Hospital is commissioned in early 2012, it will include an A & E to cover the whole of Fife.
Queen Margaret Hospital's unit would then deal with minor injuries only.
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