Boost for hospitals in wards shake-up
STAFF from both Ormskirk and Southport hospitals have worked tirelessly to reopen under-utilised space at Ormskirk.
This has created additional beds at Southport, and will help reduce the amount of waiting time for some patients being admitted from A&E. The changes include: A reconfiguration of E, F, G and H wards at Ormskirk has enabled Southport and Ormskirk Hospitals NHS Trust to open a new, fully refurbished 14 bedded Orthopaedic Rehabilitation unit on H ward at Ormskirk. This has realeased beds for acutely-ill patients at Southport.
Last month, some of Southport’s physiotherapy outpatient team moved to A Ward at Ormskirk, creating an additional 11 escalation beds at Southport on Ward One.
Chief operating officer Steve Christian said: “Last year, we invested heavily in our emergency department at Southport hospital and this helped us to achieve our best winter performance for some time.
“However, early signs indicated that this winter was going to be one of the toughest across the NHS, so we developed a plan to better use space at Ormskirk, therefore creating more capacity at Southport.
“There was an incredible amount of work to be done, and I have been overwhelmed with the enthusiasm and team work shown by all – domestics, porters, the catering team, builders, project managers, ward staff, nurses, medics, therapists, both medical and non-medical support staff … this list is very long.
“We are incredibly grateful to all those who helped us make these changes happen in a very short time-frame.
“The new orthopaedic rehabilitation unit at Ormskirk was full within 24 hours, and our first patients have been very happy with the service.
“Our amazing staff have tackled the changes with endless energy and enthusiasm, and I would like to thank them all for pulling together as a team at this most challenging time of year.”
The changes mean that, for example, anyone who breaks a leg and needs surgery will be on the “trauma pathway for orthopaedic surgery” and will be operated on in the usual way at Southport;
If they are expected to be in hospital for more than three days and are well enough, they will be transferred to the new unit at Ormskirk for rehabilitation.
They would then remain under the care of the same orthopaedic team, overseen by the consultant of the week at Ormskirk, until they are ready to go home;
If they need physiotherapy as an outpatient, they will be treated at Ormskirk on A ward, unless advised otherwise.