Craigavon Area Hospital step down winter ward that had ‘thousands spent on beds’

A well known winter ward at Craigavon Area Hospital which was “always full” has closed its doors for the foreseeable future, as last week.

Ramone 1, which was originally created as a ‘winter ward’ to deal with an influx of elderly patients during the busy flu season, had been an asset to the hospital for approximately 10 years.

In that time Ramone 1 has undergone various changes. As the years passed the winter ward became a spring, summer and autumn ward, as the number of occupied beds increased and every available space was utilised to help the hospital deal with the never ending overflow of patients.

In the last four years new, permanent staff were employed and the ward became a full-time ‘escalation ward’ – which a source revealed was being used “consistently with no periods of closure”.

Speaking to Armagh I the woman explained that “thousands of pounds” had been spent putting in additional bed spaces upstairs and downstairs alongside a “brand new fit”.

After all of the investment in staffing and equipment, the woman is at a loss to explain the sudden redundancy of Ramone 1, but assumes the closure results from a lack of funding.

They also shared concerns for the future of Ramone 1’s loyal staff. They acknowledge that the majority of nurses will likely be assigned to other wards but then pose the question, “surely this will result in the other wards then being overstaffed?”

With money spent on temporary wards and staff employed for one area to then be sent to another it seems no accident the health system is in the midst of its own emergency.

On July 18, The Telegraph reported on Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting’s intention to ‘allow the health service to purchase hospital beds for state-funded operations’.

The proposed schemes under a Labour government could see hospitals buying “social care beds” in care homes to allow elderly patients to be discharged from hospitals more efficiently.

However, it begs the question… why are hospitals closing existing wards with existing beds to incur the expense of buying these elsewhere?

When Armagh I contacted the Southern Health and Social Care Trust for comment, a spokesperson, said: “In response to ongoing winter pressures right across the health and social care system and to cope with demand, extra, temporary (unfunded) beds are put in place in all of our hospitals during the winter months.

“On Friday, the temporary Ramone Ward 1, Craigavon Area Hospital, was stepped-down and we extend our gratitude to the whole multidisciplinary team and support services who provided high quality, compassionate care to all patients during this period.

“We are doing everything we can to reduce pressure on our busy emergency departments and wards. We are continuously working to improve our range of community services, unscheduled care and same day emergency care services to avoid hospital admission, improve patient flow and reduce the need for these additional beds where we can.

“We also welcome public support in ensuring that the sickest patients get the care they need.

“It is essential that patients leave hospital as soon as they are medically fit and families, where they can support with discharge to the appropriate care setting, whether that is home, to an alternative placement for rehabilitation or ongoing care. There is another sick patient who needs the bed on a hospital ward. This may mean accepting an alternative package or care home placement while waiting for a preferred longer term option.

“Research shows that an extended hospital stay can cause deconditioning, reduce independence, increase the risk of confusion, falls and infection. We ask patients and families to please work with our fantastic rehabilitation teams who are leading on the drive to keep patients mobile and independent during their hospital stay to ensure that they can return home quickly as soon as medically fit and get the most out of life.”

The Southern Health and Social Care Trust’s advice for when to visit Emergency Departments:

• Only come to our EDs if you have serious symptoms that need hospital care and phone 999 if the patient is acutely unwell.
• Phone first (Monday to Friday 9am to 9pm) before travelling to our EDs or Minor Injuries service with less urgent symptoms. Tel: 0300 123 3 111.
• Consider if your condition could be treated by your pharmacist or GP.  If symptoms cannot wait until your GP reopens, call Urgent Care (GP) Out of Hours Tel: 028 3839 9201.
• For help choosing the right service: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/…/how-use-your-health-services or https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/camp…/illnesses-and-conditions

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