COUNCILLORS are set to discuss the proposed closure of a ward at Westmorland General Hospital (WGH) at a meeting next week.

Members of the health and adults scrutiny committee for Westmorland and Furness Council will consider proposed changes to WGH and Royal Lancaster Infirmary by University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT) when they meet on November 27 at Barrow Town Hall.

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.”

Here is a breakdown of the proposed changes at Westmorland General Hospital and Royal Lancaster Infirmary:

Ward Six at Westmorland General Hospital

Ward Six is currently a 16 inpatient rehabilitation ward which mainly supports patients who are not meeting the medical criteria to reside, usually from Royal Lancaster Infirmary.

The report says on average, there are two to four patients on the ward at any one time. It adds their length of stay increases because of the move to WGH which puts patients at an ‘increased risk of a negative impact’ on their recovery.

According to the report, the proposed closure of the ward would provide an ‘opportunity’ to increase the number of patients receiving day case surgery and would support the aim of the hospital to become an ‘accredited surgical hub’.

It is proposed that admissions to this ward will stop on November 25 with beds being closed as patients are discharged.

 

Royal Lancaster Infirmary Wards 22 and 23

Wards 22 and 23 are currently used as bedded elderly care wards, for patients who no longer require hospital care but do need some further support to safely return to their place of residence.

The proposed changes would see these wards move away from a medically led model of care to one focused on rehabilitation, the report states.

 

Royal Lancaster Infirmary Ward 16

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 16 overnight beds.

It is proposed the ward will become a dedicated assessment unit for GAU and EPAU

The trust say the overnight beds which are currently on the ward are ‘predominantly filled’ with surgical patients who should be on a surgical 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 that would be set up to ‘always maintain’ the privacy and dignity of patients.

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.