Plaid AM criticises Fairwood ‘downgrading’
Qualified nurses are being under utilised due to a change in the Admissions criteria for Fairwood Hospital. That is the warning from Plaid AM Dr. Dai Lloyd.
The admissions criteria for Fairwood hospital is now limited to patients waiting for local authority re-housing, waiting for a residential home or those experiencing Home Care delays.
Dr. Lloyd stated:
“There is no doubt in my mind that Fairwood hospital, in terms of its capacity and its staff, is being under-utilised at the moment.
“Historically, Fairwood Hospital has carried out rehabilitation function, particularly for elderly patients, and the core of its nursing staff are fully trained to carry out that role.
“The staff are qualified, able and willing to carry out this very important rehabilitation role. This change in admissions policy by the Trust is another kick in the teeth for those staff members who have given a hundred percent commitment to the facility.
“I have heard of so many examples from individual patients who have received first class rehabilitation care at Fairwood, and it is vitally important that this service continues in the future.
“The decision to review the admissions policy seems to be a determined effort by the ABM trust to downgrade the centre to nothing more than a holding station for those awaiting re-housing, home care plans or residential home placements.
“This is not an effective use of the skills of the staff or of taxpayers’ money. The rehabilitation element needs to be re-instated and I have written to the Trust outlining my concerns.
“Fairwood Hospital has been subject to great scrutiny over the past few years. It is high time that the Trust management accepted the fact that it is a well thought of facility, and it is the wish of the people of Swansea and its elected representatives to see it continue. They must stop trying to undermine the service and this downgrading need to be reversed.”
