Many thanks for your recent enquiry relating to Kello hospital.
I have noted the wider interest you refer to and thought it might be helpful to set out the background in terms the current provision of care at Kello hospital, particularly in relation to minor injuries. Firstly, I want to provide an overall and absolute assurance that our primary focus remains on patient safety across Lanarkshire through what continues to be a period of exceptional challenges. At the onset of Covid-19 pandemic, NHS Lanarkshire made the difficult decision to suspend the minor injury service at Kello Hospital. The continued pause of the minor injuries service is primarily and unfortunately related to broader staffing pressures across the NHS in Lanarkshire and Scotland and our obligations to ensure safe staffing arrangements across our services. It is important to recognise that nursing in a minor injuries context requires further qualifications and an enhanced skill set in addition to providing care in the main unit of the community hospital (or any given hospital environment). Recruiting staff with the minor injuries skillset to the community hospitals is exceptionally difficult at this time. Similar challenges also apply to the logistics of training existing ward staff in a way that does not disrupt the delivery and prioritization of care for existing inpatients or those in the community. We also remain especially vigilant regarding Covid-19 as we enter the winter months, aiming to protect both our workforce and our particularly frail patients. Given the challenges in recruiting the workforce required for the safe delivery of the service it is regrettably not possible at this time to specify when the minor injuries service at Kello Hospital can resume. We appreciate that this is frustrating. We are committed to ensuring appropriate care is available to the communities of Clydesdale, for example with the recent extension of our Hospital at Home service into the locality. In terms of available support, I would also highlight the following: From Monday to Friday, appointments are available at local treatment rooms across Clydesdale for many aspects of care, including minor burns, cuts, and wounds. Appointments can be scheduled by calling Lanark treatment room at 01555 667150. Choose an item. Phone: 0303 123 1008 Email: @southlanarkshire.gov.uk * There is a specific wound clinic in Biggar (located within the out-building at Kello Hospital) that was established when the minor injuries service was suspended. It is well-utilised, and the hours are being extended due to demand. The clinic is scheduled on Tuesdays and Fridays (13:30-16:00), and starting from November 7th, the Tuesday clinic will be operational from 09:00 to 16:00. Appointments can be booked via the Lanark treatment room number mentioned above. *I would also like to remind you that we actively encourage anyone requiring minor injuries services to initially contact 111, where they can receive remote assessment and advice on the most appropriate treatment option, including attending a dedicated minor injuries unit at one of the local hospitals if necessary. I do understand that this response may not provide the answer you were hoping for regarding the minor injuries service. However, I hope the information about available alternatives is helpful. I also want to emphasise that senior management, clinical leaders and staff are diligently directing and prioritising available resources and expertise to where it's needed most, including in our rural areas, during this time of unprecedented challenge. Thank you for your continued support. Yours sincerely Lesley Thomson Nurse Director
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