Statement by Alasdair Morrison, Labour Candidate
Parliamentary candidate Alasdair Morrison has demanded that the Scottish health minister provides funds to Bethesda Care Home and Hospice to help address the bed-blocking issues at Western Isles Hospital.
Space available but no Scottish Government cash for step-down facility. Alasdair Morrison at Bethesda with members of the hospice and care home management.
Speaking following a meeting with DR Macdonald at Bethesda Care Home and Hospice, Alasdair Morrison said: “Despite the best efforts of our excellent NHS staff, they are working in demanding conditions where too many of their patients are being kept in hospital when they should really be cared for in a step-down facility. I was shown today the facility that could house these much-needed beds for people who don’t need the level of medical care a hospital provides but need to be cared for in a facility that will see them through the period until they are fit enough to their own homes.”
He said the council and the health board were to be commended for allocating revenue money that would pay for the day-to-day running of the beds. Currently there is room in the upper part of Bethesda that could accommodate these much=needed beds, which in turn would immediately relieve the bed-blocking at the Western Isles Hospital.
“I was told during my visit to Bethesda that capital support of around £450,000 would allow for this facility to be furnished and allow Bethesda to care for people who are looking for a step-down facility which in turn will allow them to return to their own homes when they improve.”
Mr Morrison said that if the SNP was serious about tackling the challenge, the minister must address the matter immediately by providing capital funding.
“I have made repeated requests to both our MP and MSP to support me on a cross-party basis. Sadly, they have yet to respond to any of my invitations. I do hope they will start to put party before people and support this reasonable call to the health minister which will allow us to jointly address a problem that frustrates patients, NHS and council home care staff.”
that’s not much cash – in the great scheme of things. Shocking the number of patients who are being kept in expensive hospital beds in the islands when they should be cared for in the type of facilities Bethesda has to offer. this is one area where all parties must work together.
How long before the useless MP blames Westminster for this, forgetting that the NHS is the responsibility of the SNP government?
And how long before the MSP actually does something about this?
Or is he simply sad about this, like he is about every other issue?
Keep at the idle eejts Mr. Morrison.
The 450,000 required to furnish Bethesda’s surplus accommodation is little more than the combined salaries of the three highest paid managers in the local NHS.. This issue has nothing to do with politics,but everything to do with priorities.
Or little more than 100 times the amount a certain MP spent on “Icelandic Lessons” at our expense!
although oral exams were taken in the Faroe Islands – with tutors visiting London occasionally.
Will someone explain this to me? All my husband will say is ” even the most cunning of linguists is bound to get caught with his jacket off”, which leaves me more baffled than ever.
Anyhow it is not him it is the MSP who should find the money to do this, it would be done soon enough if it was in Edinburgh, as I will tell them when the office in Bayhead opens again.