The north’s psychiatric hospital has been forced to temporarily reduce capacity due to a chronic shortage in nursing staff.
Health bosses yesterday announced the number of operational beds at New Craigs would be restricted from 48 to 42 due to “daily” gaps in the rota.
Out of 204 nursing positions, there are currently 33 vacancies – 25 of those for registered mental health nurses.
That accounts for 16% of staff and led to the hospital temporarily cutting the number of available beds.
The restriction is the second of its kind in under a year and all the affected beds are in what is called the “general” level of care.
Other measures adopted include staging “safety huddles” twice a day to ensure the proper distribution of nurses so no ward is left “unsafe.”
To alleviate pressure, patients from the Highlands could also be admitted to hospitals outside the region before being brought back.
Managers say staff leaving or retiring has left the service under pressure since November 2016 – and now there are gaps in the rota “on a daily basis”.
Michael Perera, general manager for mental health services, said: “With our current staffing levels we have had to reduce our bed numbers to match the available workforce.
“In addition nine of our current establishment of trained mental health nurses have indicated their plans to retire this year.”
Recruitment drives failed to plug the gaps despite attending job fairs across the UK and advertising in national publications and websites.
Mr Perera said: “This has left us with a significant pressure within inpatient services and if we don’t act now the safe running of the hospital is at risk.”
The measures in place now “will stabilise the hospital” and allow more in-depth planning for the future.
He said: “We are keeping staff and patient groups informed of these changes and will ensure everyone is kept up to date as the position changes.”
MSP Maree Todd said: “I understand that people will be concerned by the announcement today that there will be a reduction in beds at New Craigs caused by a staffing shortfall.
“As someone who worked in New Craigs as a mental health pharmacist for 20 years, I know just how challenging this type of work can be – but also how rewarding it is too.
“Every effort is being made to resolve the situation and I understand that a temporary measure has been put in the place in the meantime.”
Last August New Craigs reduced the number of beds from 54 to 48, that was then permanently reduced to 48.
