The children’s ward at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy will be moved to Forth Park Hospital in just under two weeks, NHS Fife has revealed.
Health chiefs said the move was part of a scheduled re-organisation of services ahead of Victoria’s new wing opening in 2012. However, NHS Fife also admitted the measure would ease medical staffing pressures resulting from covering services on two separate sites.
Forth Park, which provides maternity and neo-natal services in Kirkcaldy, is set to close once the new wing at Victoria opens. Bringing the children’s ward across to the site will see Fife services for women and children integrated before they are moved to purpose-built accommo- dation at Victoria in 18 months.
Labour MSP for Kirkcaldy Marilyn Livingstone said staff had been consulted on the move. She said, “It’s quite a positive move. In the long term the services will be together so it’s logical and an example of good practice.”
An NHS Fife spokeswoman said, “The early integration of acute paediatric services will take place as planned at Forth Park Hospital, ahead of the services’ move to the new wing at Victoria Hospital in 2012.
“From 9am on Tuesday, August 10, Victoria Hospital’s children’s ward will move to ward one at Forth Park.”