Bosses at NHS Ayrshire & Arran have today revealed how the decision to transfer ICU beds from University Hospital Ayr to Crosshouse was taken to head off a future “emergency staffing crisis.”
Ayrshire Live brought you the exclusive news yesterday that three ICU beds providing round the clock care at Ayr will move to the Kilmarnock hospital.
Yesterday’s announcement is part of a radical shake-up in the local health system.
But it has already sparked a backlash and fears in some quarters over an 'erosion' of services from a South Ayrshire perspective.
NHS Ayrshire & Arran said it has become “increasingly difficult” to sustain the current critical care service model at Ayr because of “significant difficulties” in recruiting senior medical staff.
In a statement, Joanne Edwards, Director of Acute Services, said: “Within NHS Ayrshire & Arran, critical care services are currently provided from both University Hospitals Ayr and Crosshouse, with an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and High Dependency Unit (HDU) in each.
“However, it is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain the current critical care service model on the University Hospital Ayr site due to significant difficulties in recruiting senior medical staff.
“To secure the safety and sustainability of critical care services across the organisation, we need to plan to facilitate changes to how the services operate.
“These changes are complex and require planning with our clinical teams.
“This may take between six and 12 months from now to implement the required changes.
“These actions will reduce the likelihood of an emergency staffing crisis.”
Ms Edwards confirmed that critical care services “will continue to be provided” from both University Hospitals Ayr and Crosshouse.
But three level 3 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds in University Hospital Ayr “will transfer” to Crosshouse on an “interim basis”- although it's unclear at this stage when that will be implemented.
Ms Edwards said: “It is important to note that we are not ‘losing’ any beds. The three ICU beds in Ayr will be added to the existing ICU bed footprint in Crosshouse.
“It is also important to note that critical care provision will continue on the University Ayr Hospital site via the High Dependency Unit (Level 2 Care).
“These changes will ensure safe and sustainable critical care services in both University Hospitals Ayr and Crosshouse.”
Ms Edwards also told how clinical teams have advised that “it is time” to separate anaesthetic rotas from intensive care rotas on the University Hospital Ayr site.
And by doing this it “should improve” recruitment prospects separately in both anaesthetics and intensive care and was something that was done at University Hospital Crosshouse “a number of years ago.”
Her statement goes on: “Patients with the highest acuity clinical needs will have access to an Intensive Care Medicine (ICM) Consultant 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“This will also reduce the burden on anaesthetic colleagues in University Hospital Ayr and provide trained intensive care consultant presence on the Ayr site during core weekday hours.
“These interim changes to the provision of level 3 critical care at University Hospital Ayr will have no impact on Emergency Department Services.”
She added: “Over the coming weeks and months we will be engaging closely with our clinical teams as part of our thorough planning process, ahead of implementing these interim changes.”
Ayr MSP Siobhian Brown said: “It is disappointing to hear that ICU beds are moving from Ayr to Crosshouse and I share the concern of those who have contacted me.
“I will be speaking to NHS Ayrshire & Arran in light of this to explore ways forward that best suit the needs of patients, staff and the organisation.
"The NHS as we know is under great pressure at the moment due to COVID-19 and Brexit, so it’s important we explore all avenues."
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