No money for A&E upgrade

Sep 30 2011 by Lisa Boyle, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

A MULTI-MILLION pound upgrade of Ayr’s accident and emergency department is unlikely to go ahead.

Health chiefs have revealed that the ambitious plan is on ice after the government admitted they simply don’t have enough money in the pot.

Details of the £35 million proposal to provide 12 hour a day, seven day a week, consultant led A&E services at both Ayr and Crosshouse Hospitals were submitted to the government in December last year.

But in July this year, the Scottish Government came back to say that budget cuts mean money is too tight to give the proposal the thumbs up.

It is the latest hammer blow for Ayr’s A&E department.

The health board have revealed plans to shift orthopaedic trauma services from Ayr to Crosshouse hospital.

And that has resulted in real fears that Ayr A&E could ultimately be closed by stealth – despite being saved from closure four years ago.

Liz Moore, director of integrated care and emergency services, explained: “NHS Ayrshire and Arran received a response from the Scottish Government in July about the Outline Business Case for front door services at Ayr and Crosshouse Hospitals.

“The response outlined that due to the outcome of the UK comprehensive spending review, which has resulted in a 36.5 per cent real terms reduction of public capital resources across Scotland, the scope for any new investment is extremely constrained.

“The Scottish Government has advised that over the coming months they will be assessing through the spending review, how quickly the projects at Ayr and Crosshouse Hospitals will be able to proceed, given the capital budget availability over the next three years.”

The plan included the development of a new build A&E unit and expanded critical care facility at Ayr Hospital and a redesign of A&E services at Crosshouse.

The plan to shut down orthopaedic services from Ayr hospital was revealed to managers earlier this month.

It has been met with outrage from medics, politicians and the public have vowed not to let Ayr’s A&E close by stealth.

John Scott MSP has now called upon the chairman of Ayrshire and Arran health board to explain how services will continue to be run from both sites efficiently and within the budget constraints.

And he has vowed to take up the matter with the health minister.

He said: “Coming on top of NHS Ayrshire & Arran's plans to move trauma orthopaedics from Ayr to Crosshouse, the information announced today is a matter of the utmost concern.

“There is now a greater need than ever for clarity and a clear statement of intention from NHS Ayrshire and Arran on how they intend to maintain full A&E services at both sites, and removal of trauma orthopaedics and other services to Crosshouse is certainly not an option given the long term implications for the future of A&E at Ayr.

“This is why I have written today to Bill Stevely asking him for an absolute assurance that trauma orthopaedics will not be removed from Ayr, and how he intends to provide the services he and his Board have been charged by the Cabinet Secretary to provide, within the budget available.

“With regard to the availability of funding from the Scottish Government to upgrade our A&E units I will also be raising this with the Cabinet Secretary at the earliest opportunity.”

It’s claimed closing the orthopaedic trauma unit and shifting it to Crosshouse will help plug a £14 million financial black hole across the health service.

Orthopaedics senior management team are now in the process of developing a plan of action before the final proposal is put before the health board in December this year.