NHS bed closures 'could compromise patient safety'

Hospital staff have expressed anger at plans to close beds for frail older patients and move their care into the community.

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust is running a consultation on the closure of 30 beds on Whatman Ward at Maidstone Hospital.

One staff member said any closure would "compromise patient safety in West Kent".

The trust said the consultation would run until the end of August and it was reviewing how services were delivered "to ensure they remain safe, sustainable and able to meet patients' needs in the future".

At present, Whatman Ward has 21 medical beds, with an additional nine assessment spaces.

According to the trust's consultation document, the proposal would result in a complete closure of the ward.

The document states: "The NHS 10-Year Plan prioritises treating patients at home, and shifting care from hospital settings to community settings. More so, with an increased focus on treating and monitoring frailty patients via virtual wards from their own homes".

Staff members have spoken to the BBC on condition of anonymity.

One said: "There is real concern that vulnerable, elderly patients may spend longer in emergency departments or on trolleys while waiting for a suitable bed to become available, which can be particularly distressing for people living with dementia and frailty."

One staff member working on Whatman Ward said it provided vital, specialised care for highly vulnerable, frail older patients.

"Removing 21 acute beds... will severely impact local emergency care pathways and compromise patient safety in West Kent.

"Even now, finding beds for elderly patients can be extremely challenging, with wards frequently under pressure and patients often waiting for appropriate placements."

A spokesperson for Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust said the proposal would help services align "with national plans to shorten length of stay, improve patient flow through our hospitals and minimise delays with discharge.

"As part of this ongoing work, teams may support care in different areas, enabling us to strengthen services, expand care in the trust and with partners in the community, and help patients receive the right care in the right place throughout the year."

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