Anger over hospital plans to axe beds for elderly
A Belfast hospital was today warned it was putting some of the most vulnerable members of society at risk after it approved plans to close 36 beds for the elderly.
Trade union Unison expressed serious concerns about the reforms for the Ulster Hospital, which will take effect from April 1 next year.
But the Eastern Health and Social Services Board (EHSSB) claimed the £4m (€6m) package would mean fewer admissions and faster treatment.
Brendan McCarthy, Unison regional officer, said the transition from hospital to the community would be a difficult one for many elderly patients.
“Some old people have been in this particular ward for a number of years and are what we would call institutionalised,” he said.
“It is going to be a big step for those old people to go into the community.
“The only people they will see is their home care for maybe half an hour a day.
“It does nothing for them and it takes away the care and attention they get from the nursing staff.”
Mr McCarthy, who has requested an urgent meeting with health chiefs, said the hospital currently has 150 beds for the elderly and will be reducing its capacity by more than a third.
The EHSSB defended the reforms and confirmed it will create 40 new posts to provide the new services.
It said patients with heart failure and specific respiratory problems would benefit from the measures, while rehabilitation services will also be overhauled.
The board said the reforms will also lead to the introduction of a number of community nursing projects, more specialist assessment and more elaborate home care services for the elderly.
Anne Lynch, EHSSB director of planning said: “Community services have a crucial role to play in future health and social care services.
“People want to remain in their homes, as far as possible, when getting treatment.
“This significant investment will help them do that.
“The objective though still remains that community services will consolidate the acute sector.”
Ms Lynch said the initiatives were being financed through the redeployment of resources from the hospital sector.
The Ulster Community and Hospitals Trust confirmed staff working in the area affected by the reforms will be redeployed to other parts of the Trust.
