Monday, July 30, 2012

Inpatient care could "go private" if Cottage closes

INPATIENT care will be “outsourced to the private sector” if plans to close Llan Cottage Hospital are approved, reports the Daily Post today.

Health chiefs want to close the 137-year-old hospital as part of a radical overhaul of primary and community care.

The newspaper report says the town’s GPs are opposed to the closure which would see inpatient care provided seven miles away at Chirk – or if no NHS beds are available – in local care or nursing homes.

The health board believes that by rolling out a comprehensive “enhanced care at home” package it can slash the number of hospital admissions in Llangollen, and across North Wales.

Last year there were 117 admissions to the town’s 10-bed facility.

The report adds that a spokesman for the Health Board said patients don’t want to be in hospital if they can be cared for in or near their own home.

“We are confident that the majority of care can be delivered in this way if we enhance community services capacity and work closely with the local GPs.

“Where NHS beds are needed we plan to provide these at Chirk hospital.”

The use of extra care housing, nursing or residential homes are all options than can be explored during the consultation process, he added.

The consultation will be launched from August 20.

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