Fears closure of Royal Northern Infirmary could create bed blocking problem at Raigmore Hospital
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BED blocking that would stretch already struggling city health services to breaking point is a real danger if NHS Highland pushes ahead with plans to close an Inverness hospital.
It was revealed last month that the Royal Northern Infirmary (RNI) is to close temporarily as part of plans to prepare the city for a possible second wave of coronavirus.
But outraged patient Robert Wright (76), one of the last patients to be treated at the community hospital, says that will just create more problems than it solves – a view shared by health staff and politicians.
RNI provides rehab care for people recovering from operations or sickness but too ill to go home, as well as palliative care for people approaching the end of life.
Mr Wright spent more than two weeks at the hospital recovering from a stroke but pointed out that, if that facility was not available, he would have had to be accommodated at Raigmore Hospital.
Raigmore has already lost dozens of beds due to the need for social-distancing measures.
Mr Wright said: “The service at the RNI is vital for patients to recover from serious conditions like strokes, or when waiting for a bed to become available in a nursing home.
“Without the RNI people will be sent home too early or will be bed blocking in Raigmore.”
The former Stagecoach employee from Ardersier wants NHS Highland to rethink its plans.
“In this case the system is not broken, so don’t try to fix it,” he said.
As a former union adviser, Mr Wright said he also feels for the staff affected.
“From what I understand, staff have not been consulted properly about the closure of the RNI,” he said. “Staff have serious concerns and do not feel listened to.”
A nurse, who did not want to be named, said: “I don’t think there can be any doubt that it’s a mistake to be closing RNI now, even temporarily.
“Raigmore Hospital is already under pressure and this is only going to add to it.
“Home care is also stretched as it is, so it can’t pick up the slack.
“Bed blocking is definitely going to rise, and just look at Aberdeen where cases are rising and lockdown has been reimposed – how can they be sure nothing similar will happen here?
“We’re going to need more beds, not less, if there’s a second peak.
“It feels like managers don’t really understand this.”
Regional Tory MSP Edward Mountain has previously raised questions about Raigmore Hospital’s ability to cope if there is a second wave of Covid-19 infections, calling for additional accommodation to be built in the grounds for use if necessary.
“NHS Highland are right to make preparations for winter illnesses and a potential outbreak of Covid-19,” he said.
“However, the closure of the RNI community hospital does put more pressure on Raigmore Hospital to deliver services.
“This is at a time when there are far less beds in Raigmore too, with social distancing measures seeing in-patient elective surgery beds reduced from 116 to 63.
“Almost 50 per cent of in-patient beds have been removed and patients are deeply concerned about the impact this is having on waiting times.”
Labour MSP Rhoda Grant said: “I have my own concerns about the nature of this change and what the final set up will be and I have raised this with NHS Highland.”
Gavin Smith, of GMB Union, said staff at RNI had been treated badly.
“NHS Highland delivered the closure bombshell without the involvement of any staff or trade unions,” he said. “Staff deserve much better than this shoddy treatment.”
NHS Highland, however, has continued to defend its plans.
A spokesman said: “We are taking steps to ensure that the hospitals in Inverness are prepared to respond to a potential second wave of Covid-19.
“NHS Highland is redesigning community services in Inverness as it steps up its response to remobilising services following the Covid-19 pandemic and to ensure ward environments are prepared for winter pressures.
“We have engaged with all of the staff affected and support is being provided.
“We will regularly review the temporary closure of the wards as the mobilisation of services continues.”
