Upper Tay Area Health Care & Hospital Provision
Development plans for Aberfeldy Cottage Hospital were discussed at a meeting of the Aberfeldy Area Consultative Committee chaired by Rev Sandy Gunn on 13 April.
The current use of the beds in the Cottage Hospital was identified as arising from admissions via GPs, District Nurses, from PRI and Ninewells and through planned rehabilitation. The palliative care room, recently been upgraded with funding support from the League of Friends, was now in use with liaison with the District Nurses.
Hospital En Suite Facilities
In the light of the discontinuation of the joint Cottage Hospital/Dalweem project, the development of current facilities in the hospital was seen to be vital. Re-organisation of bedrooms and offices etc and the improvement of physiotherapy and other service accommodation, would permit en-suite facilities, it was proposed. An architect’s opinion on how best to achieve this would be required. |
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It was calculated that the bed numbers would be 12 without long term nursing care beds,given that the current average occupancy was 80%. There was some discussion on how this could be achieved and funded.
Dr McBride noted that a report carried out 30 years ago which looked at the population required to sustain a community hospital indicated the figure to be 10,000. Aberfeldy would, obviously, fall under that figure. He emphasised, however, that, due to factors such as the elderly population and geographical considerations, Aberfeldy had, nevertheless, successfully sustained a hospital. It was his view that it could put itself forward as a pilot site for the development of a community hospital.
Petitions Committee
Morag Pepper reported on a Scottish Parliament public debate on the NHS that she had attended. There had been a strong feeling expressed at the lack of trust that the public now had in the NHS in that the many changes made were without public consultation and with a complete lack of consideration of local needs. She commented that there was a Petitions Committee in the Scottish Parliament and that Aberfeldy had a strong case to take forward to this.
It was noted that the League of Friends was willing to provide financial support for any development where appropriate.
Dalweem Developments
Dalweem Manager, Margaret Quinn, reported that diversification plans are moving ahead. Support cover for sheltered housing is being advanced currently as a 3 month project, introducing a Flexicare system where the carer/client can choose the format for respite care and other resources. This was presently being piloted with two clients. Expansion of the lunch club to 7 days a week was being considered, along with evening meals provision in the immediate Aberfeldy area. This meant that it was staff who already knew the client who would be able to assess changing needs. If successful Dalweem would look to cover outlying areas.
Dr McBride pointed out that there was no “quick-fix”to the issue of nursing care beds in the area and he highlighted the need for innovative ideas suitable for the communitywhich used existing facilities. He suggested that NHS Tayside be approached to consider 4 beds in the Cottage Hospital for long term nursing care and that, if Dalweem were able to get facilities which would enable them to retain clients longer, then this would help resolve the issue of no nursing home beds in the area.
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