Service 'no substitute' to under-threat ward

The Hospital at Home service will be treating 20 people per day by the end of the year, NHS chiefs have confirmed.

- EDEL KENEALY

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) revealed last year that it wanted to close ward 36 at the Royal Alexandra Hospital and reallocate the resources into the new Hospital at Home service.

In a statement to the Express, the health board said the team had delivered hospital-grade care to 18 people in Renfrewshire since launching last month while the number of people within ward 36 continues to fall.

The 22-bed ward, which sits outwith the main hospital building - usually cares for older people on delayed discharge.

NHSGGC said its future remains “under review’.

But trade union representatives at the Paisley hospital say they are very concerned that the closure of ward 36 would force the frail and elderly into other acute medical settings.