1000 sick kids have to go to Edinburgh
Concerns have been raised over the number of local children being transported to Edinburgh for hospital treatment.
Since the 24/7 service at St John’s children’s ward ended in 2017 more than 1000 children have been taken in ambulances from Livingston to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children.
The Courier has seen figures from an FOI request that reveal that in the last three years there have been 1011 ambulance journeys from St John’s to the Edinburgh hospital.
In 2017 there were 312 children, 394 in 2018 and this year 305 have been transported to Edinburgh by ambulance.
The out-of-hours paediatric ward at St John’s was suspended due to staffing pressures in July 2017 and the planned reopening of the service in October of this year was scrapped after the revelation from health secretary Jeane Freeman that an issue with staff leaving their posts has stopped the reinstatement.
Miles Briggs MSP said: “The continued closure of St John’s Hospital children’s ward to 24/7 admissions is completely unacceptable for sick children and their parents in West Lothian.
“Worried parents have no option but to take a 20-mile trip into Edinburgh for their child to be cared for, when previously this service was available on their doorstep.
“The failure to fully reopen the ward has also put increased pressure on the Scottish Ambulance Service, who are particularly busy during the winter months.”
Neil Findlay MSP said: “It is clear that the continued failure to reopen the St John’s children’s ward on a 24/ 7 basis is putting pressure on the ambulance service.
“They are being left to transfer large numbers of patients from West Lothian to Edinburgh because they cannot be admitted to our local hospital.
“Other NHS services are having to pick up the pieces. This is completely unacceptable.”
Angela Constance MSP said: “The first priority should always be what’s best for our children and where possible children should be cared for locally.
“Until our children’s ward can increase its overnight admissions from four nights of the week to seven, children who would otherwise have been treated locally will be transferred to Edinburgh at the weekend.
“This is an additional burden for parents and families and will of course have an impact on others such as the Scottish Ambulance Service.
“Therefore providing a 24/ 7 service makes sense for children, families and other parts of the NHS. West Lothian parents know this so they expect politicians to be helping with solutions and driving forward progress and not just telling them what they already know.
“Pressing for longterm solutions along with local parents is what I will continue to do, ensuring that NHS Lothian and the Scottish Government deliver on their commitment to a 24/7 children’s service.”
NHS Lothian’s medical director Tracey Gillies said: “The safety of children has and always will be the overriding priority in any decision relating to the recommencement of 24/7 inpatient services in the children’s ward at St John’s Hospital.
“It should be noted that many children, depending on their condition, would always have to be transferred to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children for treatment.
“We h av e ma d e encouraging progress in moving towards a safe and sustainable out- of- hours rota but are continuing our enhanced efforts to recruit the required staff which will allow us to fully reopen 24/7.”
A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “Inter-hospital transfers is routine care that we deliver to patients across Scotland every day.
“We work closely with local hospitals to monitor demand and review performance to ensure a safe and effective level of cover is maintained.”