Round-the-clock paediatric services to resume at St John's Hospital in the autumn
It's been more than three years since they were suspended
For the first time in more than three years, round-the-clock paediatric inpatient services are set to resume at Livingston's St John's Hospital.
It was reduced back in the summer of 2017 because of staff shortages and hasn't been fully re-instated since, leaving many having to transfer to the Sick Kids hospital in Edinburgh.
Currently, it's offering inpatient care at the children's ward four nights a week - but health bosses say that'll be extended to seven nights by October 19.
Dr Tracey Gillies, Medical Director, NHS Lothian, said the children’s ward was now in a position to fully re-open after a number of new staff were recruited to the team.
She said: “We are really pleased that we are able to fully reinstate children’s inpatient services 24/7 in St John’s Hospital. It is testament to the teams who have pulled together to make this happen.
“We have always said that we could only restore the full service when it was safe and sustainable to do so and that has been our priority throughout.
“Parents and children will not have to do anything differently and many may not even notice a difference. However it does mean that patients who require to remain in hospital over a weekend will be able to do so at St John’s, instead of routinely being transferred to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh.”
The decision is being put down to the recruitment of two permanent consultants and one locum in June, while more nurses are also being made available.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “I warmly welcome the decision of NHS Lothian to re-instate the paediatric inpatient service at St John’s Hospital on a 24/7 basis from the 19th of October and am delighted they have honoured the commitment we made together.
“Having met local families who were campaigning to have the full service re-instated, I know they will also be delighted.
“I am grateful to NHS Lothian for their considerable recruitment efforts to ensure the service can be safely resumed on a 24/7 basis. Patient safety must always be the paramount concern and it was important a safe and sustainable staffing model was established before the commitment to a round-the-clock inpatient service was made.
“I have been assured by NHS Lothian that the service will continue to be closely monitored to ensure it remains robust.”
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