A&E Petition Rejected

A petition calling for the re-establishment of A&E services at the Queen Margaret Hospital has been turned down.

NHS Fife recently launched a feasibility study to look at returning services to Dunfermline.

Campaigners have cited safety concerns because all 999 patients are now taken to the Victoria in Kirkcaldy.

The study has concluded that there's no realistic prospect that the required number of clinicians could be recruited in order to support two Emergency Departments in Fife.

Associate Medical Director, Dr Gordon Birnie, reviewed the process which led to the reorganisation of Acute Services in 2012 and examined the feasibility of re-establishing Accident and Emergency Services on the site. Following this, Board Medical Director, Dr Frances Elliot, presented a report to the NHS Fife Clinical Governance Committee for scrutiny.

Dr Elliot presented the final report to the meeting of the NHS Fife Board today. The Board has accepted all recommendations as laid out in the paper.

Dr Elliot said: “The report presented to the NHS Fife Board assessed a number of key areas; the factors that led to the ‘Right For Fife’ strategy, the process of consultation and decision making; whether the demographic projections made were inaccurate and should require the strategy to be revisited; and most importantly, whether the resulting remodelling of services has had a detrimental effect on the standards of care provided. 

“The report concludes that the consolidation of acute in-patient services on a single site in 2012 has not negatively impacted upon the safety of patients under our care, and has instead improved safety during this period. 

“It also notes the process of consultation and appraisal, which formed a key part of the ‘Right For Fife’ strategy, was robust and appropriate with the demographic projections broadly in line with the changes observed in the intervening period.

“Like many other Boards in Scotland, the recruitment of Consultants in some specialities has proven to be challenging, particularly in Emergency Medicine. 

“The report concluded, therefore, that there is no realistic prospect that the required number of clinicians could be recruited in order to support two Emergency Departments, and the associated supporting services, without compromising the safety of patients under our care.”

NHS Fife Chief Executive, Paul Hawkins said: “The safety of our patients is NHS Fife’s single biggest priority. 

“The decision taken to amalgamate acute in-patient services on a single-site was taken to ensure that we could continue modernising and enhancing the care we provide whilst ensuring that medical staffing levels were sustainable in the medium and long term.

“The Development work at Queen Margaret Hospital was a key element of the ‘Right For Fife’ strategy and there has already been significant investment on the site, with the creation of the new Regional Endoscopy Unit, Day Surgery, Urology and the Clinical Intervention Units.

“The report that Dr Elliot presented to the Board today reaffirmed that the process when led to the reorganisation of Acute Services was thorough, with the modelling around population demographics proven to have been correct. We do, however, remain committed to improving the services provided in West Fife.  

“The Board is aware of the strength of feeling regarding the amalgamation of acute emergency services on one site. As an organisation, we place great value on the feedback we receive and endeavour to act upon this wherever practicable, in order that we can use it to continue improving the services we provide.

“The Medical Director and Director of Acute Services will, therefore, lead a group to examine how we provide services for those in West Fife requiring urgent care. This group will include public representatives and will be the first stage of more comprehensive piece of work to adapt and enhance the wider urgent care system in Fife.”