Doubts over dementia unit’s future
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A DEMENTIA care unit in Caithness forced to close over staffing issues last summer may not open again, it has emerged.
NHS Highland says the future of the Harmsworth Unit at the Town and County Hospital in Wick, which specialised in helping patients with cognitive and memory problems, is in doubt.
The nine-bed unit was closed temporarily last July due to severe staffing pressures with the health authority planning to recruit staff to enable it to reopen as soon as possible.
But, almost seven months on, the ward remains closed with its future dependent on the outcome of a review of health services in Caithness.
NHS Highland’s director of operations in north and west Highland, Gill McVicar, said whether the unit will reopen will depend on what is determined as the best service of healthcare for the area.
“We have embarked on significant reviews both of mental health services, including dementia services, throughout the NHS Highland area and of the future shape of health and care services for older adults across Caithness,” she said.
“Clearly, the future of the Harmsworth Unit is a factor in both these reviews and it would be wrong of us to prejudge their outcome at this stage. We feel it would be prudent to await clarity on the direction of travel for all services for older people who have dementia and other mental health issues.”
She added: “There are more general concerns relating to the recruitment and retention of staff in remote and rural communities, which is why we are looking forward to working with the Scottish Government, local communities and partners to explore, test and evaluate different models for the future.”
Prior to its closure the Harmsworth was home to four patients who were transferred to alternative units for treatment.
Ms McVicar said everything possible is being done to support people at home but patients who require hospital treatment would be admitted to New Craigs Hospital in Inverness or people with less acute needs to Migdale Hospital in Bonar Bridge.
“One of the priorities agreed through the review of adult services in Caithness was to work with our partners to provide the community infrastructure which will allow people to live at or close to home for as long as possible,” she said.
“We are committed to progressing this while we continue discussions about the provision of inpatient beds in Caithness.”
The first meeting of a review of health and care services across Caithness took place in December when representatives of local communities, the voluntary sector and NHS Highland met in Halkirk to discuss the way ahead.
Health chiefs are in the process of organising a follow-up meeting to decide the next steps and how local people can be meaningfully involved in the process.
Health and social care public representative David Flear said it is important talks regarding the redesign of services to consider what will be the best options of patient care in Caithness, and argued that should also include if it is viable keeping the Harmsworth open.
“Talks are still ongoing to determine what way health services in Caithness are going,” he said.
“The Harmsworth Unit is part of those plans so I can’t really give my definite view on it, no decisions have been made as of yet.
“We need to take into account the number of patients it catered for and the regular usage that it was in.
“The previous review regarding Dunbar Hospital, Thurso, only took into account certain areas of health provision but in doing a whole adult review, we need to concentrate on every aspect and draw a picture of Caithness that we can live with in the future.”
The Newton Unit, the second unit at the Town and County, is still open and accommodates a 10-bed wing, two palliative care suites and eight beds for frail elderly and young disabled.
