GPs hit out at lack of consultation

A Rutherglen GP has revealed medics and patients were disappointed in the lack of “meaningful local consultation” before a decision was made to relocate palliative care services.

Families seeking palliative and end-of-life care for loved ones will have access to the specialist inpatient facility at the Kilbryde Hospice at the University Hospital Hairmyres in East Kilbride.

The development coincides with a plan by the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice to relocate its hospice in-patient unit to Bellahouston Park.

However, Dr Declan Campbell has told the Reformer fellow GPs were disappointed with the approach made by NHS Lanarkshire (NHSL) and South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership.

The GP, based at the Rutherglen Primary Care Centre, estimates over 80 per cent of patients from Rutherglen and Cambuslang will receive cancer treatment from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde facilities.

Dr Campbell explained: “Firstly, we are sure the new Kilbryde Hospice will be an excellent facility and a fantastic resource to the patients and families who will be using this service. We understand the medical, nursing and the many support staff are of the highest calibre. It is a much needed resource and we wish it every success.

“The people of Rutherglen and Cambuslang are in a unique position. For the vast majority, probably over 80 per cent, their cancer investigations, diagnosis, treatment and inpatient care will be carried out in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde facilities namely the New Victoria, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and the Beatson.

“When, as unfortunately happens, a patient’s cancer progresses to a stage where treatment becomes palliative it is vital this transition is a seamless process to avoid any stress or fragmentation of care to patients and families at this difficult time.

“It has been proposed to transfer the palliative care of patients in our locality to Lanarkshire services and Lanarkshire hospices if inpatient palliative care is required.

“We are concerned this could lead to local patients having access to palliative teams unfamiliar to the hospital teams who have treated and cared for them through their cancer journey. This could bring about a fragmentation of care at such a sensitive juncture.”

Dr Campbell was contacted by a number of GPs in the Rutherglen and Cambuslang area with concerns regarding the transfer of palliative care services.

Dr Campbell added: “The local GPs who have contacted me are very disappointed no meaningful local consultation was made with doctors, nurses and patients and their families prior to the announcement of this move. Those proposing the transfer of these services have highlighted the increased transport times to the new NHSGGC facility at Bellahouston.

“We feel transport by car would be very speedy using the new M74 link, and public transport journey would be no longer than the journey many make to the Queen Elizabeth at present.

“At the end of the day we all want the best possible care for the patients and families of Rutherglen and Cambuslang.”

Dr Linda Findlay, medical director, South Lanarkshire Health & Social Care Partnership, said work has been ongoing since December to establish the best service for residents

She added: “The new service will see care provided by a team based alongside all the other services in South Lanarkshire and accessing inpatient hospice care – when required – also in South Lanarkshire as part of a fully integrated service.

“Specifically for the Cambuslang/ Rutherglen areas, the new specialist inpatient care arrangement is set to come fully into place in October 2018.

“As part of the transition process, we have been and continue to be, in discussion with clinicians in the Rutherglen and Cambuslang area as well as the Prince and Princess of Wales (P&PW) Hospice. As part of that process, we will seek to ensure full continuity of care for all palliative care patients currently in receipt of support from P&PW.”

“Patients in the Rutherglen/ Cambuslang area who require specialist inpatient palliative care will now have access to the newly created specialist inpatient facility in the Kilbryde Hospice on the grounds of University Hospital Hairmyres in East Kilbride.

“As is currently the case, whenever the patient’s active treatment phase has concluded and an agreement has been reached that palliative care represents the most appropriate option going forward, care will transfer from the acute care team to the palliative care service.

“The main benefit of the new service is that it offers a fully integrated approach with all the other care providers in the local area.”