Call for more hospital services in St Andrews

Extending hospital services in St Andrews could help ease A&E waiting times across Fife, says St Andrews Research Group on Health and Social Care.

The group, draws on the advice of the caring professions and local councillors and has been following NHS developments in Fife for some years.

The group’s members include Dr Angela Anderson, who is a retired senior medical officer with the Scottish Government; Penelope Fraser, who is a consultant clinical psychologist; and Peter Lomas, who is a community councillor in Balmullo.

They contacted us to outline the issues being faced by those living in north-east Fife.

They believe a rethink of services is needed to ease the problems they have identified.

The say that with there being no A&E department at St Andrews, emergency cases must either go to Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy or to Ninewells in Dundee.

Older roads and the lack of a dual carriageway in north-east Fife mean there are no fast roads for ambulance drivers to take.

There are also issues in winter with the potential for bridge closures reducing the A&E options to one.

They also noted the changing population in St Andrews with the influx of tourists and students at certain points in the year.

Dr Anderson and Mr Lomas said: “The community hospital currently has two permanently-staffed rehabilitation wards and a minor injuries unit, supported by the GP practices sited there, and also working out-of-hours.

“Clearly there is a strong case for focusing urgent care services for north-east Fife in north-east Fife and extending the hours they are available.”

The group also cites evidence on patient numbers, gathered by Professor Peter Mills.

They say the reduction of urgent care services at Dunfermline, Glenrothes and St Andrews in 2018-19 led to an increase of almost 60% in the number of patients seen at Kirkcaldy.

They add: “There is a real need for these services to be provided locally in St Andrews.

“Most cases of illness or injury turning up at A&E departments can be satisfactorily dealt with by a community hospital-based urgent care service.

“It is both more efficient and more compassionate to look to St Andrews for this solution.”

And as the Scottish Government cite plans for £300 million of measures to tackle the crisis, Dr Anderson and Mr Lomas say there is a simple solution, which is to “extend the hours in the out-of-hours service at St Andrews Community Hospital”.

Bryan Davies, head of primary and preventative care services with Fife Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “We are working with a range of services and partners to ensure, despite the challenges, people continue to receive the right care, at the right place in the right time, with patients at the highest clinical need being identified early and prioritised.

“St Andrews Community Hospital continues to provide a range of services as well as out-ofhours and our local pharmacies provide a Pharmacy First as an alternative option for minor ailments, treatment and prescriptions.”

He mentioned the range of services available to people living in Fife, including GP practices, Pharmacy First, NHS Inform and NHS24.

He added: “In an emergency, always call 999.”