South Scotland MSPs Sharon Dowey and Colin Smyth have expressed concern over the move to shift ICU beds from Ayr Hospital to Crosshouse Hospital.
According to an MSP, the loss of Ayr Hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU) will have a “serious impact” on the treatment of patients from South Ayrshire.
The decision to transfer critical care beds from Ayr to Crosshouse Hospital today has drawn criticism from Sharon Dowey, MSP.
Starting today (March 11), patients will be transferred by ambulance along the A77, where three of the specialised care beds will be located.
This implies that Ayr will no longer have a Level 3 critical care service, and Crosshouse will now have 12 available ICU beds.
NHS officials stated last week that they will be temporarily closing the ICU in order to address a staffing shortage.
Concerns have now been raised by the Tory South Scotland MSP regarding the effect this will have on South Ayrshire patients who may need to go to Kilmarnock hospital in the event that they need critical care.
“This is the latest devastating blow for frontline services at Ayr Hospital,” stated Ms. Dowey.
The elimination of these intensive care beds will seriously affect patient care, which will worry my constituents in Ayrshire.
“Patients south of Ayr will have to travel even farther due to the transfer of these beds.”
Colin Smyth, a fellow South Scotland MSP, stated that the action is a part of the “steady erosion of services at Ayr Hospital”.
“Few people will be shocked by this move because we have seen a steady erosion of services at Ayr Hospital,” stated the Labour lawmaker. The NHS’s top brass claim that this is a temporary measure, but few will buy it. What gives them the impression that they will be able to hire employees anytime soon if they are unable to do so in order to properly staff these beds?
“It is understandable that the relocation of these beds will prompt inquiries from the community, who will want to know what other services are planned going forward and whether the hospital will eventually close and be relocated to Kilmarnock.”
The public was reassured last week by NHS CEO Clair Burden that the ICU relocation was not a part of a “bigger plan” to close Ayr Hospital.
Ms. Burden stated: “University Hospital Ayr is, and will remain, integral to how we deliver healthcare to the people of Ayrshire.”
“We understand that some people may be concerned about these temporary changes and what this may mean in the event that they or a loved one requires critical care services,” the speaker continued.
But the purpose of this temporary adjustment is to close large labour shortages that would otherwise make it impossible to continue providing our critical care services.
Leave a Reply