Standing room only for incredulous hospital staff

Date published: 17 August 2007

It was standing room only in the lecture theatre at the Rochdale Infirmary as incredulous staff were told that the Stonehill Block was no longer deemed suitable by Greater Manchester Fire Service to house many of the patients currently being nursed there. Over 100 staff were told by senior Trust managers that new fire safety regulations meant that three wards on the first and second floors would have to be transferred to Fairfield General Hospital in Bury and another ward moved to the ground floor in order to comply with the new laws. The Trust had been unaware of the new regulations which came into force in October 2006 until a Fire Service inspection earlier this summer.
 
Although Steve Taylor, deputy divisional manager for medicine, stressed that the building itself was safe, his words did not convince many who said that they pointed out safety concerns when the building opened seven years ago. They also pointed out inadequacies in fire safety training with regard to the safe evacuation of non-ambulant patients which management promised to "look into".
 
Mr Taylor said he could not give precise details of which wards would move and when as plans had yet to be finalised. He did state however that he felt it important to meet with staff "at the earliest opportunity" to share this unwelcome news and ensure that they were kept fully informed.
 
The news was seen as yet another blow to a demoralised Infirmary staff. Some clearly felt that despite assurances to the contrary, this latest announcement seemed to be a convenient excuse to move yet more services from the Infirmary site that is already set to become a 'downgraded' locality hospital when the results of 'Healthy Futures', the review of acute NHS services, is finally announced at the end of the month - the results of the review are currently with the Secretary of State for Health following an appeal against the decision of the consultation announced earlier this year.
 
Pete Hinchliffe, trade union convenor for the Trust, told Rochdale Online after the meeting: "Nobody wants unsafe services for patients but staff clearly feel that this is yet another nail in the coffin for the Infirmary site. Some members of staff felt that the Trust Chief Executive, should have been at the meeting as should Fire Service representatives.

"Although staff have been told that they will still have jobs, where they will work and in what specialities has yet to be decided. Many staff do not drive and a move to Bury will be a real hardship for some."

Mr Hinchcliffe pledged that the trade unions would support staff during this difficult period.
 
Although a timescale for the moves has yet to be decided, Mr Taylor said it would be "weeks rather than months".

The Stonehill block, which was purchased as a modular construction seven years ago, could be used to house offices. There are no plans to pull the building down at this stage. The block was intended to be a 'temporary measure' when it was erected pending the building of 'Phase 2', which will now no longer be constructed following the formation of Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust in 2002 and the subsequent reshaping of acute services.
 
The announcement that the movement of three medical wards to Fairfield was "temporary" was greeted with incredulity and hoots of derision by many at the meeting. The Trust promised to keep staff updated and meet with them individually to see where they could offer them alternative posts.