Ward closure bid backed by ‘real’ clinical reasons

THERE are “real” clinical reasons for closing a paediatric ward in Paisley and transferring services to Glasgow’s new children hospital.

Dr Jennifer Armstrong, medical director of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said that inpatient services at the Royal Alexandra Hospital (RAH) in Paisley, while excellent, “could not match” the world-class facilities available for seriously ill children at the Royal Hospital for Children.

Senior doctors from the RAH and the new hospital put forward the clinical arguments for closing ward 15 and took questions from concerned parents yesterday at a public engagement meeting.

Concerns raised will be taken forward to a meeting of the board on October 18, when it will decide whether to move to a full consultation, running for at least 12 weeks, or to abandon the plans.

Dr Armstrong said children who required a stay in hospital would have direct access to services not always available at the RAH, including a senior consultant within four hours of admission, ultrasound equipment, specialist nurses and overnight beds for parents.

She said most children would continue to be seen at the Paisley hospital.

She said: “This is not about the care that’s provided at ward 15 of the RAH. There is excellent care provided. This is really about improving care and giving children in Clyde access to the hospital we opened last year.

“The Royal Hospital for Children is a hospital dedicated to children. It also has specialist teams that a sick child needs. No matter how good ward 15 is, it can’t match that.”

However Paul Mack, councillor for Paisley South, warned the board it would have a fight on its hands to axe the ward.

He said: “There is precious little in Paisley that’s held in such reverence as ward 15. It’s a precious gem in Paisley.”

Local councillor Iain McMillan asked how much the board would expect to save by relocating the service.

Dr Armstrong said this question would be answered during the consultation.

Parents and local councillors raised concerns about the accessiblity of public transport and added distances parents will face to travel to the Govan hospital, with seriously ill children.

However, Dr Hilary Conetta, paediatric consultant at the RAH said paramedics “were key” to the process and that parents should always dial 999 in an emergency where children had access to lifesaving treatment before they arrived at hospital.