Health chiefs have ‘no plans’ to close hospital

HEALTH bosses in Fife have insisted there are no plans to permanently close a community hospital, despite staffing concerns.

Assurances have been sought the Randolph Wemyss Memorial Hospital in Buckhaven still has a future as part of NHS Fife’s portfolio after plans emerged to shut one of the hospital’s units.

A consultation is to be held on the cottage hospital’s Wellesley Unit, which provides end-of-life care and also supports people due to be given social care packages in the community.

NHS Fife has confirmed the process will involve staff, patients and their families over the coming weeks, although it is understood the consultation will progress on the basis the 10-bed facility should be closed due to the staffing situation at present.

That has prompted worries the entire hospital – which will mark 111 years since its opening at the end of this month

– may now be on borrowed time.

However, Claire Dobson, divisional general manager for the Fife health and social care partnership, has moved to allay those fears.

“There are no plans to close Randolph Wemyss Memorial Hospital,” she said.

“Patient safety is our single biggest priority and it is crucial that we ensure we can deliver the best possible care in the right setting for each and every patient.

“Due to challenges in maintaining safe medical staffing levels we are about to start a period of consultation with patients, their families and staff about the future of the Wellesley Unit, which is a 10-bed in-patient ward providing end-of-life care and transitional care for patients awaiting social care provision.”

More details about how staff, patients and families can have their say on the Wellesley Unit’s future are expected to be revealed in the coming days.