Ward at community hospital closed for third time
A ward at a community hospital in Cornwall has been closed for the third time since it was transferred from the NHS to a private company.
The 10 beds at Poltair Hospital, in Madron, near Penzance, were shut on Tuesday and will remain closed for almost six weeks while long-running staffing shortages are addressed.
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It is the third time the ward at Poltair has been closed because of shortages of fully qualified nursing staff since it, and 13 other hospitals in the county, were controversially taken out of the NHS in October and placed into the hands of a community interest company.
St Ives Liberal Democrat MP Andrew George, who campaigned against the transfer, spoke to Kevin Baber, corr chief executive of Peninsula Community Health (PCH), yesterday wed morning.
Mr George said: “The point I made to him was clearly if he was trying to engender confidence in the local community that the company was up to the job then closing the hospital to overnight residential stays three times in the last five months wasn’t going to help.
“I also said that sickness, hiring, firing and the management of staff rotas is standard for any organisation of that size and present regular challenges which should not close the hospital down.
“Clearly this needs to be sorted if it is to reassure the local community that it should have taken on this important responsibility.”
PCH confirmed the ward would be closed until March 12.
In October, less than two weeks into the new arrangements, new admissions were suspended because of a lack of qualified staff and workers off sick. That was repeated in December.
In a statement yesterday the not-for-profit company said: “The difficult decision to close the ward was taken in the interest of patient safety and staff care. The temporary closure will enable us to reach a complete resolution to the staffing problems experienced at the hospital over recent months.
“By Monday, March 12, newly appointed nurses will have worked out their notice period with current employers and been inducted to Peninsula Community Health ready to receive patients onto the ward at Poltair.
“The remainder of the hospital continues to operate as normal with nine clinics open to out-patients.
“We want to assure patients with appointments at any one of our nine clinics that these services are not affected by the ward closure.”
8 Comments
by toffer99
Saturday, February 11 2012, 1:41PM
“Here' a story from our future. How it will be for us when they've killed off the NHS: http://tinyurl.com/7dtgj7h”
by cousinjack2
Friday, February 10 2012, 10:19PM
“Dear Toffer
As a small boy this son of a Cornish tin miner knew what hardship was. Hardship engenders common sense and realism
Consequently I KNEW that the interests of the working class and the conservatives were incompatible. This was the view of the survivors of the First World War who were then sacrificed on the altar of commerce.
This certainty was lost when we put aside our prejudice to accept the leadership of Churchill This man won the loyalty of the people simply by telling us the Facts of life. However we turned to Labour at the end of the war whose dream of a fair and working democracy caught our imagination.
It was then when things went wrong. The true nature of man came to the fore and it soon became apparent that as soon as the bombs and telegrams stopped coming we reverted to the leadership of self interest. Thus we all became Tories whatever we called ourselves. I remember too, the way ambitious shop stewards abandoned the interests of the nation and membership to satisfy personal ambition.
Sixty seven years later we see the disgusting part of the community who think they are entitled to all the benefits of the welfare state without contributing in any way. At the other end of the scale we have the Bankers and politicians who have eagerly privatised politics right across the house. That is privatised to the degree they serve the masters who contribute to party funds and promise personal benefits.
We the electorate blame them and view them with scorn. However, if we look again we see that the politician faithfully reflects the values of those who vote for him. In looking at the revolting view from the Palace of Westminster we but see a reflection of ourselves.
I think this democracy is past its sell by date and we will have years of tribulation before and if, a fair society can be established. Our defence system is being dismantled and preparation made for the incoming new administration by the Mafia Dons of international commerce and politics.
THIS friend is evolution.
If we choose to live in a sink of iniquity we must adapt to survive in the new environment. Truly 'tis said "the sins of the Fathers shall be visited on the children onto the third and fourth generation
I have two great grandchildren... THEY I pray will eventually see a better world where man regains some dignity and values.
For some months I have had Google search for Mafia/Government
Not a day passes that I don't get at least one match Canada is badly affected and this country is far from clear It is NOT an Italian problem as we now have Mafia setting up a global government with elected politicians scrambling for places among the Dons. Both front benches are affected in the commons with a waiting queue of aspirants on the back benches We have betrayed our war dead
Thank God I am in my eighties but God help my Great Grandchildren Come in me 'andsomes look in a mirror and be honest”
by cousinjack2
Thursday, February 09 2012, 6:54PM
“NHS= No help sadly?”
by cousinjack2
Thursday, February 09 2012, 6:28PM
“Yeah! last time I went to Poltair it was a private house
Now that the NHS is privatised
Can we stop funding the privatised Parliament and spend our taxes on Defence and health.”
by toffer99
Thursday, February 09 2012, 1:20PM
“Not to worry. I distinctly remember somebody saying "The NHS is safe in our hands." Now who was that?
Incidentally Mr George, well done for voting against the NHS bill.
Four Liberal Democrat MPs rebelled: Andrew George, Julian Huppert, Greg Mulholland and Adrian Sanders. It won't save the Lib Dems at the next election, you're all doomed along with the Tories when the electorate gets a vote again, but at least your conscience will be clear”
by cheekyman_jr
Thursday, February 09 2012, 11:46AM
“I take it that Peninsula Community Health are going to be penalised for this and their contract will be reviewed.
If my business bid for a service, then stopped doing it, we would be chucked out on our ears...I expect the same here.
Bring back the NHS, fund them properly, and stop messing about with peoples lives”
by DenTrenyer
Thursday, February 09 2012, 11:26AM
“Private companies exist for one purpose only: profit. The concept of care is never going to take priority over the motivation of gain. Expect more and more stories in this vein as creeping privatisation gradually takes over the NHS.”
by Roberd
Thursday, February 09 2012, 9:06AM
“When will these people learn that Penwith has had enough of our hospital services being downgraded, how can we possibly be clearer with these people?”