Dementia ward’s off to Monklands
The dementia ward at Wishaw General will move to Monklands Hospital in a radical shake-up.
And it comes as the acute adult in-patient psychiatry ward 24 at Monklands Hospital is to move to Wishaw General in just a few weeks time.
More than 30 members of staff on the ward fear their jobs may be cut, while patients face being uprooted after NHS Lanarkshire announced the proposals, which will be put into effect next month.
Dr Alistair Cook, medical director of Health and Social Care North Lanarkshire, stated that there will be no changes to overall bed numbers within the current mental health service.
He added that the plans come as a way of helping them deal with dropping numbers of junior doctors.
He continued: “These aim to deliver safer and more effective specialist care to patients who require inpatient care while developing and improving local community services.
“The operational reconfiguration of North Lanarkshire mental health wards in Monklands Hospital and Wishaw General Hospital is one that will improve the quality and safety within these wards.
“The change at Monklands will present the opportunity to design a more appropriate environment that is in keeping with the current evidence base for dementia care while maintaining the ward on a district general hospital site.
“Elderly patients admitted with acute psychiatric problems who also have memory problems, will also benefit from the dementia-friendly environment in Wishaw General’s ward three.
“The changes are necessary as diminishing trainee doctor numbers mean covering three acute sites is becoming increasingly difficult.
“The West of Scotland Deanery has highlighted how the current situation could impact on trainee work load, training quality and the quality of care to patients.
“Similarly, despite introducing Advanced Nurse Practitioners, it is increasingly difficult to maintain acute psychiatric services across three sites.”