Leanchoil will not reopen as part of health plan
LOCAL care homes are to be used for elderly NHS patients in recovery and when at the end of their lives.
And Leanchoil Hospital will not be reopened according to a new Health and Social Care Moray transformation plan that is out for public consultation.
Chief officer Pam Gowans explained rising demand for services, combined with reducing funding and operational pressures, put the sustainability of current reactive models of care and support at risk.
She said: “They also don’t do enough to support people’s wishes to stay as well as possible, for as long as possible, so they can remain living independently in their own home in the community and avoid hospital admission.
“Our previous engagements events were a great opportunity to have a discussion with the community about some of the challenges we face in terms of demographic changes, finance and workforce and to listen to concerns.
“I hope people will now take opportunity to respond to this consultation and put their views forward.”
A redesign of services aims to provide more care and support in people’s homes and the community, preventing unnecessary hospital admissions and supporting a faster return home.
The transformation plan has been drawn up by doctors, nurses and other professionals from across the health and social care system working in partnership with the community, Third Sector and Independent Sector and reflects on previous engagement with the community.
It was intended that the document be consulted on as part of a plan to determine how health and social care services could be reconfigured in anticipation of the possible future closure of Leanchoil Community Hospital. However, reduction of nurse staffing levels below a safe operating threshold and challenges around recruitment have resulted in the “temporary” closure of the hospital at the start of September.
The plan has been developed on the premise that Leanchoil Community Hospital will remain non-operational.
The current plan proposes the creation of a multi-disciplinary team with staff from different professional disciplines working in a more integrated way to provide a more responsive service.
The short stay Augmented Care Unit (ACU) at Varis Court will be considered as part of development of a new model.
Nursing Home beds would be an ongoing option for commission in local care homes for the frail elderly who cannot be cared for at home and for patients requiring end of life care, should this prove under the current testing to be appropriate and effective.
The consultation runs until November 1 and the findings will be presented to the Integrated Joint Board at its meeting on November 29.
The Transformation Plan and link to the consultation response form are available at https://hscmoray.co.uk/forres-localityconsultation.html.
Printed copies are available at Forres Health Centre and Auchernack or by contacting 01343 567187.
Members of the Forres Locality Professional Core Group which drew up the plan will be on hand to answer questions at the Culbin Medical Practice flu clinic in Forres Town Hall on Wednesday, October 24 from 9am-4.30pm and the Varis Medical Practice flu clinic on the following day from 9am-4.40pm.
