NHS Lanarkshire proposals to improve general surgical services in the short and long-term at Monklands, Hairmyres and Wishaw have been slammed as "unworkable" by concerned healthcare professionals.
Airdrie & Shotts MSP Neil Gray has been in touch with the health board after being contacted by worried constituents and health workers, while Lanarkshire Live has also received correspondence from anxious readers.
Last week we reported on how NHS Lanarkshire's board approved a proposal to develop a long-term sustainable configuration to benefit surgical procedures at its three acute hospitals, with the service change process "requiring a robust options appraisal".
The plans, due to be introduced next month, will see improvements to general surgery services, which NHS Lanarkshire say is needed to overcome issues with consultant-level staffing and junior doctor training at Monklands Hospital in particular.
These improvements include access to a new surgical ambulatory care unit at Monklands Hospital to reduce emergency admissions and a 24/7 emergency theatre, with no major changes to overall service provision for patients.
The emergency department of Monklands will continue to receive general surgical patients around the clock and general surgical cover will continue to be provided for other departments in the hospital, such as emergency medicine, general medicine and intensive care.
However, a worried healthcare professional, who wished to remain anonymous, contacted Lanarkshire Live to claim: "These changes are simply unworkable as they will just add to people's already considerable workload.
"It beggars belief that NHS Lanarkshire think this is a good idea; it feels like they are moving the goalposts all the time.
"There will be quite a few people working for the health board who will now be considering their futures."
Another anonymous reader got in touch to say: "Concerns have been raised about patient safety and access to surgery in a safe timescale, and the added pressure to the ambulance service.
"There will also be capacity issues across all three sites, which will become more complex under the new system, and there are concerns about training for specialties within NHS Lanarkshire as these changes could mean trainee doctors could be removed from services, which will threaten the viability of Monklands Hospital as an acute site.
"The possible movement of medical patients into Monklands Hospital will put added pressure on already overworked nurses and clinicians and this, in turn, will lead to more staff losses, which are at an unprecedented level already."
Despite concerns being raised by clinicians from groups across NHS Lanarkshire, these plans will go ahead in August.
Mr Gray said he is looking into the worries raised, telling Lanarkshire Live : "“I understand the need for NHS Lanarkshire to make adaptations to ensure patient and staff wellbeing.
"However, I have had concerns raised with me by staff at Monklands Hospital about these changes and I have taken this up with NHS Lanarkshire.
"People know I will always stand up for our local hospital and ensure the best interests of patients are protected."
Judith Park, NHS Lanarkshire director of acute services, said: “We are delighted the board has approved the proposal to undertake a service improvement process to develop a long-term sustainable configuration for general surgical services.
“In the meantime, the rapid reconfiguration we are introducing in August will ensure that we can continue to provide safe care across our three acute hospitals and deliver equity to patients, when accessing planned or unplanned surgical care, wherever they live in Lanarkshire.
“This underlines our commitment to maintaining general surgery and emergency departments, with access to emergency surgery and medicine supported by critical care, diagnostics and outpatients, at our Hairmyres, Monklands and Wishaw hospitals.”
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