IRH intensive care unit at risk of closure

Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board bosses and the Scottish Government confirmed publicly for the first time that it could be moved to Paisley's RAH as part of a wider review.

It comes after health campaigners repeatedly raised the alarm that the unit was under threat.

The health board has blamed a lack of a trained workforce, a recruitment crisis and a reduction in activity at the unit for the proposal.

This also follows the board's recent decision to stop treating the most serious trauma cases at the IRH's accident and emergency.

The Scottish Government say the health board is acting to protect health and safety.

They said: "A number of risks and challenges exist that impact on the sustainability of that level three unit. These are predominantly based on the availability and upskilling of the workforce and the reduction in activity in the unit, the combination of both resulting in a failure to meet the minimum standards set for such a unit by the Scottish Intensive Care Society.

"These risks, noted to potentially reduce the reliability of high quality care, could impact on quality and safety."

They say there was a vacant consultant post for the last three three years unfilled, despite recruitment campaigns.

The health board also say four of the remaining eight consultants within Inverclyde Royal are non intensive care unit anaesthetists without specific ICU training.

In a letter responding to campaigners, they also cite long standing and increasing gaps in associate doctors, associate specialist doctors or staff grade doctors resulting in the majority of middle grade shifts being covered by locums or not at all.

They also pointed to a 22 per cent shortfall in nursing staff, which is reducing the strength of the unit.

It adds: "The ability to recruit and retain experienced ICU nursing staff is challenging. This position has not improved in the last 12 months and continues to decline.

"Taking cognisance of the issues highlighted the board is considering the future delivery of level three care across the Clyde sector with the likelihood that this level of care would be delivered at the RAH."

Health campaigners like Ciano Rebecchi have repeatedly told NHS bosses that if they continue to take services away, it will be get harder to recruit staff locally.

Dr Jacci Stoyle, who wrote to the Health Secretary for answers about the ICU while standing as a Lib Dem general election candidate, said: "The loss of these beds would be bad news for our local community.

"The health secretary blames lack of nursing and medical staff for this impending closure. As the Scottish National Party has complete control of health matters since 2007 the public will rightly ask who is to blame for this staffing crisis.

"I am calling today for health secretary Jeane Freeman to come to Inverclyde to meet with me and Councillor Rebecchi to help us get to the bottom of this issue.

"It is clear that our hard working NHS staff deserve more support to deliver the standards of care that everyone expects."

The Tele put the concerns to the Scottish Government and the calls for the health secretary to visit.

The government insist there is no formal proposals for change - yet.

A spokesperson said: “Both the Scottish Government and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde have been consistently clear in our commitment to the continued provision of comprehensive hospital, community and primary care services across Inverclyde, including at the IRH.

“The health board has assured us that every effort is being made to maintain the ICU beds at IRH.

"The service is under review to ensure sustainability but there are no formal proposals for change as yet.

"We would expect the development of any such proposals to be informed by the engagement of local stakeholders.

“We have been clear that the board should continue to maintain the service, as long as it is clinically safe to do so, while the review is underway.”

A spokesperson for Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board said: "We are absolutely committed to providing safe and effective care for patients at Inverclyde Royal Hospital. The hospital plays a vital role within the community and will continue to do so for the long-term. 

"No decisions have been made regarding the ongoing provision of level three, intensive care at IRH and as it stands, we continue maintain two intensive care beds.

"However, despite multiple recruitment drives, we face long-term staffing challenges for the two affected intensive care beds and as a result, we are considering a number of alternative options. These will allow us to continue providing intensive care treatment for the small number of patients in the region requiring it – around one patient per week – with options including potential safe transfer to another hospital if necessary.

"It must be noted the remaining five coronary-care and four high-dependency beds at IRH are completely unaffected.

"Any proposed changes to service would be subject to a process of communication and involvement of stakeholders."