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14/05/2002
RVH high dependency beds out of action
Five high dependency beds at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast have been out of use for the past two months, due to a shortage of nursing staff the hospital has confirmed.
The high dependency beds are intended for patients who may not need intensive care but require more support than is available in an ordinary hospital ward.
A spokesperson for the Royal Victoria Hospital said: “Although we are not happy with the situation it is not unusual. It is part of the ongoing juggling operation we have across the health service where every hospital is trying to manage with the resources they have.
“However we are hopeful that with new nurses arriving all the time we can alleviate the shortage of staff that work in these all-important units.”
It was confirmed that staff in the high dependency unit were transferred to the intensive care unit in order to maintain the efficiency of the emergency ward. As a result the beds have been out of use, since March 4 of this year.
A Department of Health review of the province's need for intensive care and high dependency beds in May 2000 recommended a substantial uplift in services, including the five-bed high dependency unit at the Royal.
The report said: “Space needs to be identified for the inclusion of a high dependency unit to be developed adjacent to the regional intensive care unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital. This should have the capacity for around 20 HDU beds.”
The review also recommended that: "Plans should be put in place now and funding identified to ensure that there will be sufficient trained nursing staff in post when the new intensive care unit in the Royal opens in two years' time."
(AMcE)
The high dependency beds are intended for patients who may not need intensive care but require more support than is available in an ordinary hospital ward.
A spokesperson for the Royal Victoria Hospital said: “Although we are not happy with the situation it is not unusual. It is part of the ongoing juggling operation we have across the health service where every hospital is trying to manage with the resources they have.
“However we are hopeful that with new nurses arriving all the time we can alleviate the shortage of staff that work in these all-important units.”
It was confirmed that staff in the high dependency unit were transferred to the intensive care unit in order to maintain the efficiency of the emergency ward. As a result the beds have been out of use, since March 4 of this year.
A Department of Health review of the province's need for intensive care and high dependency beds in May 2000 recommended a substantial uplift in services, including the five-bed high dependency unit at the Royal.
The report said: “Space needs to be identified for the inclusion of a high dependency unit to be developed adjacent to the regional intensive care unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital. This should have the capacity for around 20 HDU beds.”
The review also recommended that: "Plans should be put in place now and funding identified to ensure that there will be sufficient trained nursing staff in post when the new intensive care unit in the Royal opens in two years' time."
(AMcE)
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