25 per cent of beds at risk in Downe

25 per cent of beds at risk in Downe

16 July 2014

HEALTH officials have drawn up plans to close one quarter of beds in the Downe Hospital this summer.

Seven beds have already been taken out of service in the past fortnight with two closed at the weekend.

The cuts have been made as part of a summer rationalisation plan drawn up by the Trust allowing it to remove up to 12 beds from service over the summer to cope with a severe staff shortage.

The latest cut leaves just 42 operational beds in the Downpatrick hospital, including 33 on two medical wards and nine coronary care beds.

Trust officials have explained the decision to further reduce the number of beds at the weekend has been taken as a temporary measure in response to severe staff shortages due to sickness and maternity leave.

They say the reductions are part of a summer plan to facilitate study and annual leave in light of “severe” staff shortages.

But the decision has been greeted with fury by politicians and campaigners fighting to ensure full services are maintained at the Downe. It has also caused disquiet among hospital staff, who fear for the hospital’s future.

A UNISON spokesperson this week said there was increasingly low morale among staff who feel Trust officials are not acting quickly enough to replace staff.

The spokesperson said four staff had left the ward most affected by the cuts six months ago and have yet to be replaced, while recent closures to the coffee shop and cafe, following the removal of accident and emergency, were seen as further downgrading of the hospital.

“The closure of beds is being viewed as precursor to something bigger and staff are understandably worried about their jobs,” the spokesperson said.

“The Trust says this is temporary, but the staff find this hard to believe.”

Health campaigner, Mr. Eamon McGrady, chairman of the Down Community Health Committee, warned the closure of beds had heightened community anxiety about the hospital’s future.

“We understand these closures are supposed to be temporary and reflect possible staffing issues during holiday time, but the closure of accident and emergency six months ago was also temporary and this service has not been reinstated,” he said.

“It seems the hospital is very busy at the moment so this must put extra pressure on the service.

“Surely planners should have anticipated the need for further staff if this happens every year and it is doubtful that maternity leave should be included as that should be planned for.

“Sickness among staff should also not lead to closures, unless there has been an epidemic of some sort.

“I am sure there are nursing homes in this area that now offer more beds than the Downe.”

South Down MP Margaret Ritchie said she was alarmed that such a decision had been taken without consultation and urged the Minister for Health to intervene to protect services.

“This decision, albeit temporary, has been taken at holiday time when there has been an influx of visitors to the area — some of whom may need inpatient hospital services,” she said.

“I am told that the Downe Hospital is currently busy and therefore a decision to close some beds seems foolhardy.   

“Surely good management practice would permit more sensible deployment of staff and the use of agency staff.”

Downpatrick councillor Colin McGrath said the closures showed the South Eastern Trust was “incapable of managing its work.”

“This is an absolute disgrace,” he said.

“At Christmas, we were told we would lose 24-hour cover at our accident and emergency unit and now in the July holiday period we see big reductions in bed provision — The Trust really must cease burying bad news at holiday times.”

“Each time the Trust withdraws a service it blames everyone else for giving them a hard time insisting if we had the correct information we would understand — yet here we are again seeing reductions in service and sealed lips from managers.”

Councillor Cadogan Enright described the bed closures as “Ill advised.”

“This demonstrates poor planning by Trust management,” he said.

A South Eastern Regional Trust spokeswoman said the aim of the bed ‘downturns’ was to allow nurse managers to staff their wards appropriately and safely.  

“Any further ‘downturn’ of beds on either site (Downe or Lagan Valley) will be considered if bed occupancy or activity allows,” she said.

“The re-opening of all ‘down-turned’ beds is expected in September or earlier if activity and staffing levels allow. 

“The Trust is continually keeping the bed position under review.”