The INMO has hit out it what it has labelled a “bizarre decision” to close a 17-bed ward at the region’s main hospital.
The inpatient ward at UHL, which has 17 funded medical beds primarily for the treatment of patients who require short periods of admission, is set to close at the end of the month.
The UL Hospitals Group says it was only ever a temporary unit and the closure will facilitate the completion of works on a new fracture unit, while the impact is being offset with the opening of a number of new beds.
UHL is once again the most overcrowded facility today with 54 on trolleys and the INMO’s Midwest representative, Mary Fogarty has been telling Clare FM’s James Mulhall that the move to close a ward beggars belief:
UL Hospitals Group Statement
Ward 1A/Medical Short Stay Unit (17 beds) at UHL is to close to facilitate the completion of works on the new fracture unit. This is in accordance with the overall plan to redesignate the space occupied by the old Emergency Department at UHL.
Staff were fully involved in this process, with various teams presenting business cases on optimal use of the old ED. The outcome of this process was to open a new fracture clinic in a portion of the old ED footprint. This will have a significant benefit for patients attending our busy fracture clinic in terms of reduced wait times and improved patient experience.
After the old ED was vacated, the Medical Short Stay Unit opened on a temporary basis and this will shortly be converted to a fracture unit in accordance with the plan.
UL Hospitals Group also wishes to point out that the plan to close the 17 beds in the MSSU is offset by the following:
- The 12-bed surgical short stay unit, which opened last month and is currently operating four days a week, will open on full-time basis towards the beginning of April once all the appropriate resources are in place
- 3 additional cardiology beds opened last week
- 5 bed spaces in the vacated former Acute Medical Assessment Unit are being looked at to maximise the use of these bed spaces
- Management is also examining the opening of the 15-bedded medical ward 4C at weekends
Separately, UL Hospitals Group continues to focusing its efforts on getting a number of admission avoidance pathways up and running and provide alternatives for patients with specific conditions.
UL Hospitals Group can confirm that the above plans in respect of Ward 1A were shared and discussed at meetings with the trade unions, including the INMO, in the third quarter of 2018. Management is happy to meet the INMO in respect of matters raised in their letter to the CEO on March 6th.
