Inverclyde Now Logo ‘INTENSIVE Care Beds At IRH Remain Open’ Say Health Board

8 October, 2020 | Local

HEALTH bosses — and the First Minister — have sought to reassure the public over critical care facilities at Inverclyde Royal Hospital following concerns.

In a lengthy statement, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde assert that:

— Critical care team and intensive care unit (ICU) beds remain at IRH

— Most critical care patients will continue to be treated at IRH

— And that they are “entirely committed to ensuring the Inverclyde community has access to the highest quality of care”.

Meanwhile, local MSP Stuart McMillan said: “Today during First Minister’s Questions, the First Minister confirmed that the ICU at the IRH is NOT closing.

“What is happening is the patient pathway for those who are most unwell has been formalised. This was already happening on an ad hoc basis during to the Covid-19 pandemic, with nine patients being transferred to QEUH using this patient pathway.

“Only patients requiring level three ICU support are transferred from the IRH.”

The health board statement in full:

“Critical care facilities at Inverclyde Royal Hospital are provided by a team of consultants from a number of specialties and critical care nurses. This team takes care of patients who need a range of critical care support in the intensive care unit, the high dependency unit and the coronary care unit.

“We are proposing to build on a patient pathway that was used for certain patients during the Covid-19 pandemic and transfer those who need intensive care support to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

“The ICU beds in the hospital remain open. The staff remain in place, with increased senior medical staffing at the weekends. All critical care patients will continue to first be assessed and managed at IRH by the relevant clinical team.

“The high dependency unit and the coronary care unit will continue to treat patients at Inverclyde Royal Hospital throughout their journey. This will continue to include support for breathing problems (via non-invasive ventilation) and circulation support as is the case at present.

“Patients who need intensive care support are typically the sickest, and their care can include ventilation or multiple organ support. These are also called ICU level three patients and require one nurse per patient.

“We know from published evidence that 30 per cent of Covid-19 patients who require ventilation also require renal support. Renal support has not been able to be provided to IRH ICU patients for a number of years now. If faced with an increasing number of Covid-19 patients in ICU they would be required to be transferred.

“Patients who require ongoing multi-disciplinary level three ICU care will be transferred following admission to IRH. IRH ICU staff will manage and stabilise these patients and support their transfer to QEUH.

“Once patients improve and they no longer need critical care (level trhee) support, they will be assessed for transfer back to the IRH for their continued recovery and rehabilitation. This will include access to a specialist critical illness recovery programme if necessary.”

It continues: “The Inverclyde critical care services -– intensive care unit, high dependency and coronary care — currently admit approximately 1,450 patients per year. Within this, the number we propose to stabilise and transfer is approximately 100 ICU patients per year, seven per cent of total admissions.

“Keeping patients safe is our top priority and these changes have been made with a view to making sure patients who need the most highly specialised multi-disciplinary support have access to it.

“This patient pathway was reviewed by intensive care consultants from IRH and QEUH, senior clinical leaders and senior management. All other IRH services, including emergency surgery, planned surgery and the emergency department, are unaffected by this change. We will monitor this closely and keep it under review.

“This plan ensures Inverclyde residents have access to highly-specialised, multi-disciplinary intensive care within Greater Glasgow and Clyde.

“We have a long-term vision for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde which is set out in our Moving Forward Together plan. Our chairman John Brown has previously committed Inverclyde Royal Hospital has a long term-future and will continue to play an important part in the delivery of healthcare in Greater Glasgow and Clyde.”

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