Fixing The NHS

Fife Labour launches a campaign to tackle the growing problems facing Fife's NHS.

The campaign, being launched in Buckhaven, will demand an NHS that is 'Fit For Fife' in response to growing reports of bed shortages, increasing waiting times and under-staffing. The Scottish Government's own figures recently showed that waiting times for cancer treatment in Fife are on the rise.

Fife Labour's campaign calls on the Scottish Government to urgently launch an independent review of the NHS in Fife. Members say the review would identify the health needs of people across Fife, and set out a clear plan to deliver improvements in Fife's NHS. 

Prominent Labour figures and activists in the Kingdom will be gathering signatures on a new petition which calls for action from the Scottish Government. The campaign is also inviting members of the public to submit their experiences of NHS Fife.

Councillor David Ross, Leader of Fife Council said:

"Care services for older people are overstretched in Fife because of under-funding by the Scottish Government.  NHS Fife can't cope and council social work services are having to pick up the pieces. This can't go on. The Scottish Government needs to fix the problems and deliver an NHS that’s fit for Fife."

Melanie Ward, Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Glenrothes and Central Fife, said:

"I'm hearing increasing concern from local people about the state of our NHS in Fife. Nursing staff report being overloaded whilst patients say their treatment is suffering because of staff shortages. As winter approaches, our precious NHS will be under even more strain. The Scottish Government must stop burying its head in the sand and act now to give us the NHS we deserve."

Dr Brian Montgomery, Chief Executive of NHS Fife said the pressures facing NHS Fife are the result of problems affecting both the health service and social care.

He said: “NHS Fife’s priority is to provide a safe environment for its staff and patients and to deliver care of the highest standards. 

“There are currently 131 people in beds in NHS Fife hospitals who do not need to be there. Their needs would better be met at home or in care homes but the necessary support packages and placements are not available.

“Similarly there are people in the community who are not receiving the support needed to maintain them at home and so are consequently at risk of being admitted to hospital. The challenges in securing care packages and placements lead to difficulties in treating sick people who need the services of an acute hospital. This results in delays in hospital treatment, frequent moves for inpatients, the inability to discharge people when their treatment is completed and cancellation of non-urgent work such as planned operations. The majority of complaints received by NHS Fife relate to these issues.”

Dr Montgomery continued, “Significant work is already underway to address the challenges and we will continue to work with patients, staff and local communities to plan, develop and deliver services. This includes the recruitment of additional nursing and medical staff to further improve care. In the month of October an additional 84 clinical staff commenced employment in NHS Fife.

“NHS Fife in isolation cannot resolve the situation. We remain committed to working in partnership with Fife Council to strengthen services and develop initiatives which allow people to be cared for in the community without the need for hospital admission. Our shared aim is to provide people with the right care, from the right person, at the right time and in the right place

“It is in no one’s interest to allow this to become a situation where it appears that one partner is seeking to blame the other.

“As we respond to these challenges we welcome all feedback and there is already an established feedback system in place. Any petition will be considered as part of these mechanisms. As always, we are happy to discuss any matters of concern with elected representatives.”