Campaigners have criticised the closure of a ward at Caithness General Hospital.
The Queen Elizabeth wing, the assessment and rehabilitation unit for orthopaedic, surgical, medical, cancer and stroke patients will close on Thursday or Friday, NHS Highland said.
Originally a 25-bed ward, of the remaining eight, four will be moved to Bignold ward in Caithness Hospital and four moved to Town and County Hospital, Wick.
NHS Highland said the “redesign” calls for a further four “winter” beds (two in Bignold and two in Town and County) being made available.
The Caithness Health Action Team (Chat) said the closure has been imposed without adequate consultation.
A statement on the pressure group’s social media page said: “Feeling sad and angry today for the fantastic team at Queen Elizabeth wing, as news filters through that the ward will close next week.
“From a starting point of 25 beds down to eight, and now closing altogether with beds going to Bignold and T&C. Staff, patients and the public left in the dark once again.
“We have and aging population who deserve care, respect and dignity, and we need investment in doctors and nurses to deliver that, not a ‘redesign’ which has been imposed on us without adequate consultation.”
A spokesman for NHS Highland said: “As part of the on-going Caithness redesign, NHS Highland has been working with partner agencies and local groups with a view to improving patient flow and experience.
“During these discussions concerns that the building infrastructure which houses the Queen Elizabeth assessment and rehabilitation unit did not match modern healthcare standards led to an opportunity to integrate the work of the unit within other hospitals in the area as part of the service redesign improvements.
“So a decision was made that the community would be best served if the beds from the unit were realigned within Caithness General and Town and County Hospitals in Wick and the Dunbar Hospital in Thurso.
He added: “Now this planned realignment has been brought forward because of staffing pressures as the move will facilitate the transfer of staff to ensure that safe staffing levels are maintained.
“The realignment will allow the T&C Hospital to become a transitional care unit which will work closely with the community integrated team in Caithness to support patients to return home. Similarly, there are plans to create the same type of transitional care unit at the Dunbar Hospital, Thurso.”
