RNI Community Hospital in Inverness to close to prepare for potential second wave of coronavirus
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NHS Highland has confirmed the shock decision that the RNI community hospital in Inverness is set to close to ready the facility for a potential second wave of Covid-19 cases in the winter.
The health board claims that over the next four weeks all patients will be discharged and staff reassigned to other facilities in Inverness before essential maintenance work takes place and the hospital is readied for more virus cases.
But now staff and patients fear the hospital may never reopen its doors as a community hospital amid a reform of community services across the city while medical services are “remobilised.”
Inverness MP Drew Hendry is concerned enough to seek, alongside his colleague MSP Fergus Ewing, a meeting with health chiefs to get reassurances about the hospitals’ future.
He said: “Several people who work at the hospital have been in touch with me and they are understandably concerned about the hospital's future and whether they will have jobs to return to following this out of the blue decision.
“While everyone understands NHS Highland needs to carry out essential repairs and put in place measures for preparedness for winter pressures, it is important to be mindful of the impact these decisions have on staff.
“Given the incredible commitment these staff have shown during the Covid-19 crisis, they deserve the respect of clarity over what is happening and how they will be affected.
“With that in mind, my colleague, the MSP Fergus Ewing and I are seeking a meeting with NHS Highland to ask for further details of these plans to be shared with us and, more importantly, the people who work there.”
A spokesman for the health board said: “NHS Highland is taking steps to ensure that the hospitals in Inverness are prepared to respond to a potential second wave of Covid-19.
“NHS Highland is redesigning community services in Inverness as it steps up its response to remobilising services following the Covid-19 pandemic and to ensure ward environments are prepared for winter pressures.
“All patients currently in the RNI ward are expected to be discharged over the next four weeks. During this period, NHS Highland will undertake essential maintenance work within the hospital, including fire upgrades, to ensure the ward environment is prepared to manage any potential increase in Covid-19 cases should we experience a second wave.
“Staff will be reassigned to provide care in other areas of the community and in Raigmore Hospital. We have engaged with all of the staff affected and support is being provided.
“We will regularly review the temporary closure of the wards as the mobilisation of services continues.
“We want to thank all of the staff for the work they have been doing in looking after our patients and keeping them safe. The team at the RNI have been at the very frontline of the Covid-19 pandemic and have responded brilliantly to the challenges they have faced.”
