Ninewells Hospital palliative care unit fears
The specialist palliative care unit at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee that cares for patients with advanced serious illness has reopened, but there are fears of further closures.
- By Marjory Inglis, health reporter
- Published in the Courier : 11.10.10
- Published online : 11.10.10 @ 06.15pm
During a period of staff sickness, the decision was taken to close the three-bedded unit on September 13 and give priority to the recently-opened Cornhill Macmillan Cancer Centre at Perth Royal Infirmary.
The woman leading the fund-raising effort to try to secure a long-term future for the Ninewells unit expressed fears the beds could be closed again this winter.
"If the unit is not going to be staffed properly then as soon as somebody gets a cold this winter, it could be shut again," Trudy McLeay said.
Earlier this year she had launched a campaign to raise £1 million to support the unit that specialises in controlling pain and other acute symptoms in patients with cancer and other advanced serious illnesses.
The unit was established with a £400,000 legacy from a single benefactor in 2009 on the understanding NHS Tayside would establish a permanent unit if it proved to be a success.
At the launch of the fund-raising campaign, NHS Tayside's deputy chief executive Gerry Marr said the Ninewells unit did work and "should become part of a comprehensive palliative care service in Tayside."
However, the fact that the specially trained palliative care staff are a small group locally prompted Mrs McLeay's concerns.
"We are coming into winter and people are getting struck down by illness," she said.
"You have to ask, is it sustainable with such a small staff group.
"Palliative care is a specialist area and you can't just put somebody in who has no training and no special skills to work in the unit."
Some of the initial legacy was used to train nurses to work in the acute symptom control unit and, at the launch of the fund-raising, Mr Marr said the cash would be used to "continue and develop the service."
Mrs McLeay is determined the unit will flourish and said fund-raising is continuing.
She said that just last week the unit received four figure cheques from two different local family trusts. There are major fund-raising events being planned and the unit continues to attract smaller donations from groups and individuals.
"I was handed an envelope with £30 in cash at church today," Mrs McLeay said.
She is hoping to open a charity shop in the city for a few days some time before Christmas and is planning a May ball at the Invercarse Hotel.
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