Call for MSP to resign over 180 deaths probe
Adamson refuses to back demands for public inquiry
A community leader has called for MSP Clare Adamson to resign after she refused to back demands for a public inquiry into 180 deaths in hospitals across Lanarkshire.
Alan Love, secretary of Central Wishaw Community Council, said he was disappointed with the Motherwell and Wishaw MSP after she said calls at the time for a public inquiry into the deaths were an “over-reaction”.
It comes as the Wishaw Press reported in April that 137 patients died while waiting to be moved out of hospital between January 1, 2015 and September 30, 2016.
And today we reveal that a further 43 people have died while waiting to be discharged at hospitals across Lanarkshire since September 30 last year.
Speaking at this month’s community council meeting, Mr Love said; “I am disappointed with Clare Adamson who choose to put a statement in the Wishaw Press before responding to the community council’s letter to her.
“She is refusing to support our campaign and she stated that demands for a public inquiry were a complete over-reaction. “She has conveniently forgot that in 2015, the Scottish health secretary Shona Robison pledged to eradicate bed blocking.
“Thirty four people had died at Wishaw General and she says we are over-reacting. “I think that is a disgrace. “I would be interested in what Clare Adamson MSP has to say considering she refused to support demand for a public inquiry, describing our response to these deaths as a complete “overreaction.”
“She now has to consider her position and resign as she has lost the confidence of the people of Wishaw.
Kate Cussack, the community council’s vice-chairman, who was recovering from a hernia operation told the community councillors of first- hand experience of the problems with bed blocking at Wishaw General Hospital.
“People can’t leave hospital because their houses are not ready,” she added.
“If we had a facility then that would free up beds.
“People were screaming in the hospital and I was glad to get home.
“But at the end of day some manager came around and told nursing staff that she needed seven beds and needed them now and the nurses responded what are we supposed to do?
“She said we need seven beds because down the stair was jumping.
“These nurses were forced to tell people that you can go home now.
“I was asked to go home not even 24 hours after a hernia operation.
“I was told to sit in the day room and wait with pain killers until I got home.
“I was told that if you feel a bit warm when I am home, put a cloth on it and go to your doctor on Monday.”
Ms Adamson said: “The NHS have confirmed that unfortunately some people who are awaiting discharge pass away before a care package can be put in place.
“They have also confirmed that this is because the patients are frail, require bespoke care packages and suffer from lifelimiting illnesses which can deteriorate during their time in hospital. This does not mean that the deaths are caused by staying in hospital.
“Community services in North Lanarkshire supported a 20 per cent increase in discharges from hospital between August 2015 and November 2016.
“This is encouraging progress and comes alongside an extra £ 107m investment from the Scottish Government to allow more people to be cared for in their own homes.
“On May 15, the Scottish Government announced a further £9m to support a full roll- out of a new planning model for reducing bed blocking and ensuring patients are discharged on time.
“I’m sure the people of Wishaw would rather that money was spent on improving discharge times and other NHS services, rather than on an expensive public inquiry when there is no evidence to suggest any particular issue at NHS Lanarkshire.”
People can’t leave hospital because their houses aren’t ready. If we had a facility then that would free up beds . . . Kate Cussack