Two wards dealing with a winter surge of patients at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary are being forced to close due to a lack of doctors.
Health bosses say, as of next week, it will no longer be “safe” to keep wards 303 and 304 open within the city’s flagship hospital.
As a result, around 25 patients will need to be discharged or moved elsewhere for further care by 8pm on Tuesday April 5.
No one new will be admitted to the wards in this time.
The closure comes during a period when NHS Grampian, and the wider health system as a whole, is already under immense pressure.
And the move has been branded “disappointing” – prompting concern for those affected – by a north-east pressure group focused on patient wellbeing.
Why are the wards closing?
NHS Grampian says the closure coincides with the latest round of junior doctor rotations.
On Wednesday, they will all move to different parts of the hospital to continue their training.
“Although staffing has been challenging throughout, the changeover on April 6 means there will be no junior medical cover available,” a spokeswoman said.
It is understood wards 303 and 304 had been intended to remain in use for a few weeks to come, with the switch forcing them to be wound up sooner.
The closure will allow other staff deployed to return to their “home” wards.
Hospital already ‘close to capacity’: What happens next?
In a briefing for staff, bosses warned the removal of these beds will lead to extra pressure on the health service “at a time when it is already working close to capacity”.
But chiefs say they’re “working closely” with others to make the process “as straightforward as possible”.
This includes collaboration elsewhere in ARI, and with ambulance teams and the north-east’s health and social care partnerships.
The move also doesn’t affect other surge wards which have opened to ease winter pressures in Aberdeen, Dr Gray’s in Elgin and some community hospitals.
A spokeswoman said: “These will close in a phased manner and more information will be shared in due course.”
Poor management… or a sign more resources are needed?
Concerns have been raised about the effect the ward closures will have on patients.
Retired NHS Grampian board member and spokesman for patient pressure group Pact, Jamie Weir, said: “Decanting of patients around hospital wards is known to be upsetting for both the patient and their relatives and carers.
“To do so because there is no medical staff to cover these wards is, at the very least, disappointing.”
The move has also prompted questions as to whether NHS Grampian ought to receive more funding.
Prof Weir added: “Considering that the immense pressure on beds and staffing has been well anticipated, this might be regarded as poor management or as a result of a general lack of suitable medical staff.
“Grampian is no different from other health boards throughout Scotland in lacking sufficient beds for their populations and sufficient staff to look after them.
“It could well be argued that the resources for healthcare in Grampian are inadequate for the needs of the patients.”
