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 reorganisation 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 is commissioned. 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 accommodation at Victoria in around 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 a logical move and an example of good practice.
“I’m taking my lead from staff, who say this is a logical step, is only for a short period of time and will allow the staff to work together before moving to the new build together.
“As a local MSP I will be monitoring the situation and will continue to talk to staff to make sure there is a seamless progression between the services. Everybody at Forth Park has done so well hospital-acquired infections are at a record low.”
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.
“With effect from 9am on Tuesday, August 10, the children’s in-patient ward at the Victoria Hospital will move to ward one at Forth Park Hospital. This move will bring together the in-patient care of babies and children in Fife in preparation for the eventual move of all children’s and maternity in-patient services to the new wing. This will allow new models of care to be established and new working relationships to be developed.
“Children’s out-patients and the paediatric ambulatory care unit (where blood tests and some specialist investigations are done) will remain in their current locations at Victoria Hospital.”
Anyone with a child in need of medical attention should first contact their GP, NHS 24, primary care emergency service, or accident and emergency at Victoria or Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline.
The spokeswoman said, “As there is no A&E facility at Forth Park Hospital, parents are advised that children should not be brought directly to this hospital.”