COUNCILLORS are set to discuss proposed changes to Furness General Hospital at a meeting next week.

Members of the health and adults scrutiny committee for Westmorland and Furness Council will consider the proposed reconfiguration of the Barrow hospital by University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT).

Several wards are due to be repurposed or closed as part of a restructuring to beds at the hospital.

READ MORE: Full plan for Furness General ward shake-up revealed

A report prepared for councillors says the changes do not mean that services are stopped or reduced but where they are provided within the hospital and the community may change.

The report adds no members of staff will lose their job or be required to work at another of the trust’s sites.

According to the report, the trust ‘understands’ the level of interest the community has in its local hospital but adds: “The current plans do not require public consultation at this stage as there are no changes or reductions to the provision of services.”

READ MORE: Furness General ward closure causes 'deep concerns'

Here is a breakdown of the changes proposed at Furness General Hospital:

Ward One

In ward one it is proposed the overnight beds will be removed from the ward which currently consists of a Gynaecology Assessment Unit (GAU), Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit (EPAU) activity, and 15 overnight beds.

It is proposed the ward will become a dedicated assessment unit for GAU and EPAU and the surgical emergency assessment care unit (SEAC) which is currently on ward five will be moved to ward one.

The trust say the overnight beds which are currently on the ward are ‘predominantly filled’ with medical patients who should be on a medical ward and the current setup means patients are being cared for in the ‘wrong place’ which often leads to an increased stay.

Any gynaecology patients requiring an overnight stay would be cared for in a dedicated area on ward five that would be set up to ‘always maintain’ the privacy and dignity of patients.

READ MORE: Petition amid changes to gynaecology ward at Furness General

Abbey View

The report says the proposed closure of Abbey View ward will take place in two steps. Phase one of the changes will see the unit reduced from 20 beds to eight, with a view to closing the remaining beds following a full review.

Although, the report says the unit provides ‘excellent palliative care’ to a small number of patients, it is not a palliative care ward. The report says it is a  community rehabilitation ward that mainly supports patients who are not meeting the medical criteria to reside

However, the report adds: “It is vital that these services continue to be delivered where appropriate and the Trust is working lead clinicians in end of life care to ensure that there are robust arrangements in place for patients who previously may have end of life care in Abbey View to have quality end of life care elsewhere in the FGH estate.”

The proposed changes will support the realignment of community teams to develop a community-based model of care to prevent admissions to hospital and extended hospital stays for those patients at highest risk, the report states.

It is proposed the unit will stop admitting patients to full bed base on December 9, with 12 beds planned to close on January 6. A further review is set to take place before the remaining beds are closed in August 2025.

Ward Four

The report says ward four is a 24 bedded surgical ward; however, the beds are ‘predominantly filled’ with medical patients who should be on a medical ward.

It adds: “This means patients are being cared for in the wrong place and this often leads to an increased length of stay as they are not able to be reviewed by a medical doctor each day which delays discharges. Mixing medical and surgical patients also increases the risk of patient harm.”

It is proposed ward four will become a 24-bed medical ward, with surgical patients being moved to ward five. It adds ward four will have the capacity to increase the number of beds to 34 at times of pressure.

Ward Five

This ward currently consists of an 18-bed surgical ward as well as the surgical emergency assessment care unit (SEAC) unit.

It is proposed the SEAC unit will be moved to ward one, and the number of beds will be increased to 24 in total, which would be ringfenced for surgical inpatients.

The report from the trust adds: “The main drivers for the proposals are to improve patient care, streamline clinical pathways and reduce length of stay – not to reduce our workforce or save money.”

Members of the health and adults scrutiny committee will discuss the proposals at Barrow Town Hall on November 27.