The daughter of an elderly Fife patient has slammed NHS Fife’s response over moving her mother out of a Dunfermline hospital, which she fears could lead to her death.
Shirley Evans, of Castleblair Park, Dunfermline, told The Courier she feels the reply she received was “biased” and she is concerned for the future of her mother, Moira Mellon (78).
She is now considering taking her case to the ombudsman.
Mrs Mellon is in Lynebank Hospital but NHS Fife has decided to move her to a nursing home a move that Mrs Evans fears will lead to a deterioration in her health.
Her mother suffers from vascular dementia and Mrs Evans said she will not be able to cope if she is moved to a nursing home.
Mrs Evans said that NHS Fife are carrying out a policy of moving as many long-term patients as they can.
Such was her anger that she wrote to health secretary Nicola Sturgeon, who asked NHS Fife to respond.
However their letter has not appeased Mrs Evans, who called the reply “one-sided.”
She said, “To say I am disappointed is an understatement. I would like to know, are Dr Susan Pound and Dr Nicola Chapman answerable to anyone?
“In paragraph three of the reply it states, ‘We are currently engaged in a redesign process’.
“What this has not stated is that this entails the loss of five long-term beds.
“The letter also states that ‘Dr Susan Pound, consultant physician, care of the elderly’ I am sure many of the elderly patients at Lynebank, including my mother, do not agree with this.
“I feel the response from NHS Fife is biased and can’t believe how one-sided this all is.
“I don’t know how someone from Lynebank Hospital can make this decision.”
Mrs Evans said that she feels any move would “accelerate” her mother’s demise.
She said, “She needs to live what short time she has left in familiar surroundings and with the care staff she has known for the last two years.’Selective'”This letter seems to be a regurgitation of the policies of NHS Fife but it is very selective.
“I would like it explained how NHS Fife will benefit older people by reducing significantly the number of beds.”
She added, “I would also like a copy of the updated Right of Fife Strategy or I may have to make a request under the Freedom of Information Act…”We will lodge a complaint with the ombudsman and also seek legal recourse against NHS Fife should the appeal not be upheld.”
An NHS Fife spokesman said, “NHS Fife is unable to comment on individual cases. Therefore, we can not make any further comment.”