Downe Hospital fails to meet activity levels says report

Downe Hospital fails to meet activity levels says report

21 March 2012 - by David Telford

A NEW report has claimed that the Downe Hospital has not achieved projected activity levels in two key areas.

The report, compiled by consultants on behalf of Down Council, claims out-patient and accident and emergency attendances fell short last year of what was envisaged in the business case which paved the way for the new £64m hospital.

At last week’s meeting of the local authority’s Health Committee it was claimed that out-patient and A&E attendances had failed to reach projected targets by 12 and eight per cent respectively.

But Trust officials have rejected the claim about out-patient activity, arguing there has in fact been an increase in activity in line with its strategic direction for the hospital.

Authors of the report said the Trust had indicated that the lower than anticipated outpatient activity was as a result of a number of factors, including investment in community activities and a major drive to reduce waiting lists.

The report compiled for the council states that following discussions with the Trust, it conceded that projected out-patient and accident and emergency activity outlined in the business case was “over optimistic.”

The consultant’s report analysed the social and economic impact of the Downpatrick hospital which celebrates its third birthday this summer.

It reveals the hospital costs £21.5m a year to run, with £11.2m of this figure paid in wages to just under 400 staff.

The consultant’s report reveals services outlined in the original service model are in place, except for out-patient neurology clinics. However, this service is expected to be in place shortly when the Trust appoints a second neurologist.

Twenty-four hour emergency provision was outlined in the original business case, but a new urgent care network is now in place. Consultant cover is provided between 8am and 10pm, with GPs staffing the service overnight.

Additional day case vascular and orthopaedic services are now in place while the hospital’s midwife-led maternity unit wasn’t part of the original business case which envisaged 114 beds in the new Downe.

While this number was reduced to 91 within a year of the hospital opening, consultants say the Downe is delivering increased patient activity than anticipated in the business case, but with fewer beds.

Elsewhere, the consultant’s report says other new services planned include enhanced cataract surgery, so-called rapid access heart failure services and ambulatory care services, with the latter targeted at people who do not need to be admitted to hospital for medical care.

Councillors have welcomed the detailed profile of services currently provided at the Downe and recognise that the original business case for the Downe was compiled nine years ago and that a lot has changed since then with regard to hospital provision and service delivery.

Councillors say it’s important to remember that the activity levels outlined in the business case were “projections” and not a guarantee of what the actual position would be.