Plans are in place to close wards used to care for the elderly in Dundee’s Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH), it has been confirmed.
Staff have been told wards three and six, containing 22 beds at the West End hospital will undergo a “phased retraction”, with managers reportedly citing “organisational changes” as the reason behind the move.
Earlier this year patients were moved to ward three after NHS Tayside closed the facility’s ward two.
The hospital’s ward four will also be changed from an elderly male rehab ward to become a unit to care for stroke patients.
The move is expected to be approved on Monday evening at a meeting of the Dundee health and social care integration joint board.
It’s argued “an increase in community options” makes the decision to close wards three and six justifiable.
Dr Douglas Lowdon, clinical lead for medicine for the elderly at the Royal Victoria Hospital, said he believes the redistribution of beds is a positive step.
Dr Lowdon confirmed the process will see 10 beds moved to other parts of the RVH and a dozen spaces sourced from the community.
“99% of doctors, nurses and social workers involved in patient pathways” are in favour of the move, according to Dr Lowdon.
The news has however been met with dismay by some hospital staff, with one worker saying employee morale is “really terrible”.
West End councillor Fraser Macpherson said: “The obvious concern is what provision is being made for elderly people in wards three and six?
“That’s my immediate concern.
“I’m concerned for staff resource as well, what’s being proposed for staff and patients?
“There seems to be a lack of consultation with NHS Tayside. I only find out about things when other people tell me.”
Mr Macpherson said a firm plan must be in place for the transfer of patients and NHS Tayside cannot bank on “theoretical care home places”.
He said: “Care home provision may be an appropriate destination for some cases, but not for all.
“If wards three and six are to close, we need to be satisfied there are available and alternative opportunities which NHS Tayside can provide.
“It cannot just be theoretical care home spaces.
“I will be writing to NHS Tayside chief executive Lesley McLay to seek clarification and assurances on this subject.”
Diane McCulloch is Dundee health and social care partnership head of community health and care services. She said the health board is committed to providing a high level of care in both the Royal Victoria Hospital and in the community.
She added: “Wards three and six at Royal Victoria Hospital are transitional care wards which accommodate both people who are not medically stable enough to be discharged, and those who are fit for discharge and for whom arrangements are being made in order that they can return to living at home or in the community.
“These developments to provide more community-based services means that it is now proposed that patients from the transitional care wards will access services within the rehabilitation and assessment wards at RVH.
“It is therefore proposed a phased retraction of the two transitional wards will take place over the next few months beginning in April and the beds will be accommodated across both the inpatient and community settings.”
