Difficulties in recruiting staff hit plans to create extra bed places for the elderly to help tackle the winter crisis at a West Lothian hospital.
West Lothian’s Health and Social Care Partnership had looked to expand the number of beds at Tippethill Hospital to help deal with seasonal pressures on the health service.
But in a report to the Integration Joint Board this week, Yvonne Lawton, Interim Head of Health, and Robin Allen, senior manager, admitted: “Extensive efforts were made to secure staff to allow this to happen but were unfortunately unsuccessful.
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“Options to expand the bed base to cope with winter demand were explored. Consideration was given to increasing bed numbers temporarily at the Tippethill Hospital site to support people delayed in hospital awaiting a package of care or care home place.”
Some extra provision at a care home has been provided however with the report adding: “Agreement has been reached to provide five additional interim care home places at Limecroft Care Home to support people awaiting a package of care. Recruitment of staff has also proved challenging, but it is hoped that beds will open early in the New Year.”
The report outlined the main causes of the problems health chiefs are facing: “Pressures are unprecedented and have been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, the impact of Brexit on staffing, the current economic situation and cost of living factors.”
It added that while the situation has been deteriorating, this is against a backdrop of increasing delayed discharges across Scotland. West Lothian is reporting a better position than the average situation in Scotland.
The report also highlighted difficulties in staff recruitment across the care at home sector as well as in West Lothian’s care homes.
“There are significant ongoing problems in securing enough care at home services to meet demand," it says. "Challenges with recruitment and retention of staff are reported to varying degrees by West Lothian care providers but there are currently no providers working within their business continuity planning arrangements.
“The biggest challenge is expanding the care at home market to cope with the levels of demand being seen.”
In December Calum Campbell, chief executive of NHS Lothian, said to help free up vital beds some relatives may be asked if they can provide care to their loved ones as an interim measure, while those packages of care to help in their own homes are put in place by their local Health and Social Care Partnership.
He said: “We are all working together to reduce the extreme pressures that our patients and staff are facing. This is undoubtedly the worst we have experienced so far.
“We need people in Lothian to help their own communities and the NHS. If you are not experiencing a critical emergency, then please use the many other services available to access care. This will help relieve pressure in the A&E department and mean that our clinical teams can help those who urgently need it.”
Dr Tracey Gillies, Medical Director, NHS Lothian, said: “If you have a relative in hospital you may be asked if you can help look after your relative temporarily to help free up a hospital bed for someone waiting to be admitted. If your relative is ready to leave the hospital but is waiting for a package of care to be put in place to help them at home, you may be asked if you could provide that extra assistance for a very short time.”
Alison White, Director of West Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership spokesperson said: “Similar to the rest of Scotland and the UK, demand for health and social care services in West Lothian is currently extremely high this winter.
“All HSCP services are working together to reduce the strain that our service users and staff are facing, with schemes such as the Discharge Hub and Single Point of Contact scheme ensuring as many people are able to access a package of care in their own home.
“We would ask West Lothian residents consider how they use health and social care services at this time when services are under pressure. There is a range of support and advice available, so please think of what is appropriate for you.
“This could be checking online at www.nhsinform.scot, calling NHS 24 on 111, speaking to your pharmacy or a third sector group. You can also contact your local GP practice and in an emergency, services such as A&E and 999 are available.”
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