McGrath Angry Over Bed Closures At Downe Hospital

AS bed closures are announced at the Downe Hospital in Downpatrick, there has been reaction from Downpatrick area Councillor Colin McGrath, the SDLP’s health spokesperson, who said he is “appalled at further cuts to beds in the Downe Hospital”.

Cllr Colin McGrath has branded the South East Trust as ‘incapable of managing their work” and “straying from their word” after further announcements this week of more bed closures at the Downe.

He said: ‘This is an absolute disgrace. It appears that every week there is further bad news from the South Eastern HSC Trust about bed closures. At Christmas we were told we would lose 24-hour cover at our Accident and Emergency unit and now in the July holiday period we see big reductions in the bed provision at the Downe. The Trust really must cease burying bad news at holiday times.

“We need consultation and information about the present reductions. Each time the Trust withdraw a service they blame everyone else for giving them a hard time and say if we only knew the correct information we would understand – yet here we are again – seeing reductions in service and sealed lips from Trust managers.

“I have written to the Health Minister, again, and the Trust Chairman, xa0to vent my anger at continued provision reduction at the Down and a complete lack of public consultation or information and to ask for the swift reinstallation of these necessary beds at the Downe.xa0Over the past few years the Trust has implemented a Summer Plan in respect of inpatient beds across its hospital sites.”

A spokesperson for the South Eastern HSC Trust explained that:xa0″This year we have taken the decision to implement a phased ‘down-turn’ of medical beds in both the Downe and Lagan Valley Hospitals commencing from the 23 June 2014 (6 beds in Medical Assessment Unit Lagan Valley ) and 30th June 2014 (5 beds in Ward 2 in the Downe).

“Both the Medical Assessment Unit (Lagan Valley) and Ward 2 (Downe) are experiencing severe shortages of staff due to staff sickness and maternity leave. All efforts to recruit new staff into vacant posts have been made. The primary aim of the ‘down-turns’ is to allow nurse managers to staff their wards appropriately and safely. Any further ‘down-turn’ of beds on either site will be considered if bed occupancy/ activity allows.

“The re-openingxa0 of all ‘down-turned’ beds is expected in September 2014 or earlier if activity and staffing levels allow.xa0xa0The Trust is continually keeping the bed position under review.”