Pre-op assessments ahead of surgeries to be performed in Craigavon Area Hospital are to be carried out in Armagh, with plans to relocate the service, Armagh I can reveal.
And St Luke’s Hospital, on the Loughgall Road, is the earmarked venue.
Previously, other services have been relocated from St Luke’s to Craigavon Area Hospital, including the Bluestone unit.
Now the trend of services moving from Armagh looks set to reverse – certainly in terms of pre-op assessments.
For now the intention is to shift the surgical pre-operative assessments team completely from Craigavon to Armagh.
It is understood a total of 25 staff will be relocated and talks have been taking place with staff and trade union representatives.
The Southern Health Trust has advised the Department of Health that, despite working at full capacity, it has been long acknowledged by the pre-operative team that the service is “not meeting demand”.
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has confirmed the proposed move in response to questions raised by local MLAs covering both the Newry and Armagh and Upper Bann constituencies, in whose jurisdictions the change will take place.
The SDLP’s Justin McNulty and Diane Dodds, of the DUP, had both tabled priority questions of the Minister seeking details of what was being planned and the reasoning.
Minister Nesbitt was asked for his “assessment of the impact of the proposal” to relocate from Craigavon to Armagh on the pre-operative service team, and on the standard and range of services they can provide.
According to the Minister, the move to Armagh will provide a more compact service and will be a ‘win-win’ for patients and staff.
Mr Nesbitt said: “Their current accommodation within the Craigavon Area Hospital site is spread across various departments, making communication and efficiency very difficult within any given session.
“Co-locating the team together in one building will decrease the amount of time colleagues spend walking between rooms to communicate and share information and ultimately enhance their overall working conditions.
“The St Luke’s Hospital site has more accessible and free parking facilities and very pleasant outdoor surroundings and walkways should staff wish to use at break times.”
The Minister said that “improved communication and efficiency” of the team’s working practice would “enhance the standard of service they can offer to their patients”.
The proposed relocation of the pre-operative assessment service, he added, “aims to improve working conditions for staff and ensure a more patient centred service”.
And highlighting further benefits to those attending for pre-op appointments, he continued: “It is anticipated that patients will be able to park at the St Luke’s Hospital site much more easily than Craigavon Area Hospital and appointments should be shorter.
“There will be no change to the range of services that the team can provide from the planned new location in Armagh.”
Minister Nesbitt said that staff had been offered individual sessions with HR and Head of Service to “discuss and resolve any specific concerns they may have regarding the relocation”.
“It is anticipated that the new arrangements will support the team in offering a more professional and effective practice,” he added.
“The management team have very openly engaged with staff and trade union colleagues throughout this process.”
A spokesperson for the Trust told Armagh I: “Plans are progressing to relocate the Trustwide pre-operative assessment service to a designated facility on the St Luke’s Hospital site in the summer months.
“The Southern Trust has a dedicated pre-operative team of 25 staff, committed to providing the best possible service for patients from across Armagh, Dungannon, Craigavon, Banbridge, Newry and Mourne.
“Efforts are being made to increase elective theatre activity and improve waiting times for patients, which consequently has impacted on demand for pre-operative assessment.
“In recent years, the service has been disrupted on a number of occasions, in response to wider demands on physical space. The team is currently working from a number of rooms spread across various departments in Craigavon Area Hospital. Despite working at full capacity, this is not a productive environment for staff and regrettably not meeting demand, resulting in delays for patients in getting to theatre.
“Accommodation on our busy acute hospital sites is a major challenge. It is a priority where possible to relocate services, that are not dependent on a hospital setting.
“We have recognised the need to find a more suitable location for this important service, accessible to patients living throughout the entire Southern area. Ashleigh House, on the St Luke’s hospital site has been identified as an appropriate facility with accessible parking for patients and staff.
“The service will remain the same in this new location. The team will benefit professionally from co-location, through improved communications, efficiency, safety and being able to offer more holistic care to patients.
“Engagement continues with staff and patients will be advised through their appointment information.
“We thank all colleagues, supporting teams, patients and the public for their support as we make these improvements for everyone to the pre-operative assessment service.”
