Published: Thursday, 29th July, 2010 9:30am

Hospital under fire

A COUNTY hospital has been heavily criticised after it emerged there is a shortage of wheelchairs for dementia sufferers.

The fiasco at Edenhall Hospital, Musselburgh, was highlighted last week when one family admitted they had been forced to buy their own wheelchair after the hospital claimed there were none available.

Now critics, including the Duchess of Hamilton, local politicians and a leading dementia charity, have slammed NHS Lothian for the lack of vital equipment on the ward.

On average, over the past two years, there has been 14 patients staying in the ward at any one time. NHS Lothian has this week announced that an extra two wheel chairs have been supplied to the ward bringing the total number of chairs available to eight.

A spokesperson for East Lothian Community Health Partnership has said the amount of wheelchairs currently available for the ward "seems to be sufficient".

But, Kay, Duchess of Hamilton, who has campaigned tirelessly for better care for patients with the debilitating disease, has called the situation at the Musselburgh hospital "ridiculous".

County MSP Iain Gray admitted he is "concerned" at the situation; East Lothian Council leader Paul McLennan has said the lack of wheelchairs is "just not acceptable"; Musselburgh councillor John Caldwell hopes NHS Lothian are "suitably embarrassed" by the gaffe; and Alzheimer Scotland has claimed the provision for chairs at Edenhall is also "a major concern" for them.

Kay Hamilton, a former Macmillan cancer nurse, was married to Angus, the 15th Duke of Hamilton, battled dementia for nine years before he passed away at his Dirleton home last month. The couple were at the forefront of a campaign calling for better care on the NHS for dementia sufferers.

It emerged last week that there has been a shortage of wheelchairs for patients with Alzheimer's at the hospital's dementia ward resulting in at least one family being forced to finance their own wheelchair for their ailing relative.

Kay, 64, said: "I really cannot understand how this situation could arise. It really is "ridiculous. I would have thought dementia sufferers should have high priority when accessing wheelchairs as they are usually long-term patients.

"It seems to me to be very cruel to keep people suffering from dementia cooped up in the wards on a hot day.

"And I can only see the problem getting worse what with all the NHS cutbacks that are looming. NHS Lothian really need to get their act together with the supply of wheelchairs for dementia patients."

Scottish Labour leader and county MSP Iain Gray believes extra wheelchairs on the ward should be a "matter of urgency".

He told the Courier: "I am concerned to hear that there has been a shortage of wheelchairs at Edenhall. It's clearly important that patients are able to get outside for fresh air and I trust that NHS Lothian will make good on their promise to provide more wheelchairs at the hospital as a matter of urgency."

East Lothian Council leader Paul McLennan has said he is to raise the matter with NHS Lothian to see what can be done to alleviate the problem.

He said: "This really is just not acceptable. It is something that I will raise with the NHS, but, unfortunately, as a council our hands are tied. I feel it is vitally important that patients at Edenhall are able to get outside for a bit of family time and fresh air."

Councillor John Caldwell, Independent representative for Musselburgh East and Carberry, said: "I couldn't believe it when I read about this situation.

"I hope NHS Lothian are suitably embarrassed by this and are ensuring this doesn't happen again by supplying enough wheelchairs to go round.

"I realise in today's financial climate that they have to cut their cloth, but the staff on the ground need the basic tools to work with and I would have thought wheelchairs were essential equipment in a dementia ward.

"NHS Lothian need to be proactive in this instance and not reactive. It really isn't something that should be chased up and I believe extra wheelchairs at Edenhall should be a priority."

And a spokesperson for Alzheimer Scotland said: "I would think the NHS has an obligation to supply something as basic a need as a wheelchair.

"It is a major concern for our organisation that dementia sufferers at Edenhall Hospital are being denied access to them.

"After all, it is important for these patients to have access to outside space which enhances their family visits and ultimately their quality of life.

"It is simply not good enough for the NHS not to have enough wheelchairs on the premises.

"I would encourage families affected by this to get in touch with the Mental Welfare Commission who work to safeguard the rights and welfare of everyone with a mental illness, learning disability or other mental disorder."

But, Jane Hopton, assistance general manager for East Lothian Community Health Partnership, has said the amount of wheelchairs currently available for the ward "seems to be sufficient".

She said: "When we were made aware of this situation we arranged for two additional wheelchairs to be available on the ward last week.

"There are now a total of eight wheelchairs on the ward. At present that seems to be sufficient. However, we are monitoring this to ensure all patients have access to a wheelchair should they want to go outside and staff know they can access more wheelchairs within the hospital if necessary. If required we can also provide more wheelchairs on the ward on a permanent basis.

"Again, I apologise that not enough wheelchairs were available recently. I hope these additional supplies will enable those patients who can go outside to enjoy the sunny weather and the health benefits it can bring."