Plans to reduce hospital bed capacity set alarm bells ringing

In an email dated January 29 2025 staff were informed by Gillian Neal, area manager for Kintyre and Islay at Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), that, following a meeting with senior managers that week, it was agreed to reduce bed numbers and that the reduction would take place the week beginning February 3.

A further email stated that, after a review of February’s roster and further discussion with colleagues, the bed reduction would be delayed by four weeks to ensure that "pathways were in place for any patients who have to go out with Kintyre".

Ongoing staff shortages have been blamed for the bed reduction but South Kintyre councillor Jennifer Kean says that the situation is completely unacceptable.

"I fully appreciate that the staffing levels within the hospital are extremely challenging, however, we cannot simply reduce the capacity at Campbeltown Hospital yet again," she said.

"Every bed in that hospital is desperately needed as it is, as is shown by the delay to the plans to cut the capacity for a month due to the issues with care packages.

"A month ago while attending a Campbeltown Community Council meeting members of the CC had heard rumours that the hospital ward was closing entirely and Campbeltown would only have an A & E department – I never actually received a yes or no answer in response to my query but now with this information emerging over the last week or two it is clear there was some merit to the rumours." 

A Health and Social Care Partnership spokesman said: "We are facing significant challenges with recruitment to registered nurse posts within Campbeltown Hospital and we are currently having to use agency staff to sustain this service.

"To ensure that we can continue to provide a safe, quality and sustainable service for our patients we are having to consider the option of reducing the number of beds from 12 (plus two contingency) to six.

"There has been ongoing engagement with staff, the local community and relevant stakeholders to keep them informed of the staffing challenges and we will ensure that there is further communications with them when any decision is made in relation to the bed complement."