Unit on the move for winter
WINTER pressure threats have led to a unit for older people being moved from Morpeth to Ashington.
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has announced the Whalton Unit will be relocated to Ward 8 at Wansbeck Hospital on December 19.
The inpatient ward provides specialist rehabilitation for frail older patients.
The trust said the relocation, which will be reviewed in the summer, is to ensure there is adequate staffing to cope with the expected increase in demand over winter.
It adds that, in line with care of elderly wards across the country, the Whalton Unit has faced significant recruitment issues for both nurses and doctors.
At Wansbeck hospital, there will be more cross-cover and support across teams, making the workforce more resilient and flexible, they said.
It will also make it easier for inpatients to access other hospital services such as diagnostic tests, which currently involve them being transported – something which can be difficult for elderly patients.
However, the move has attracted criticism from residents and a campaign has been launched calling for a full public consultation about the future of the unit.
Around 400 people have signed an online petition.
Barbara Ross, of Morpeth, who started the campaign, said: “The public should have been consulted about this. They have announced this news far too late – they are going to move on December 19.
“We should be having a robust discussion and consultation about what ‘temporary’ means – just how long will the unit be at Wansbeck, will it come back or not and what are their long-term plans?
“This has caused unease and anxiety in the community.”
Usage figures since April 2017, show that around half of patients staying at the Whalton Unit are from the Morpeth area. Almost 30% live in areas which are equidistant to Wansbeck hospital, with nearly one in five living closer to the new location.
The trust says it recognises that travel may be more difficult for some families and is making transport arrangements to help.
Dr Jeremy Rushmer, executive medical director at the trust, said: “We would like to reassure the local community that this much-valued service provided from the Whalton Unit will be transferred to Wansbeck General Hospital in full and we remain committed to providing the highest standards of care to our patients in the new, temporary, location.
“The multi-disciplinary team which are the cornerstone of this service and has vital links to followup care in the community will relocate to ensure that patients requiring further rehabilitation in hospital are able to receive this without interruption.
“Winter is an extremely busy time for the NHS with increased numbers of frail older patients requiring admission and subsequent rehabilitation.
“For these reasons we must ensure that we have appropriate staffing in place where demand will be highest. Being able to draw on the wider staffing pool already in place at Wansbeck will aid our efforts to do this.
“We fully appreciate that people from the Morpeth area may find it difficult to travel to Wansbeck hospital to visit loved ones and we’d urge anyone with any issues to contact us on 01670 529108.”
Outpatient, diagnostic and community services provided at Morpeth NHS Centre are unaffected by the move.