Knighton and East Radnor Community Focus - Issue 4

This bulletin keeps you updated on the development of NHS services in Knighton and East Radnorshire including Knighton Community Hospital.

In recent editions of this newsletter we have talked about our challenge to recruit inpatient nursing staff to Knighton Hospital and our decision to temporarily introduce four ‘reablement’ rooms within the hospital’s Panpwnton Ward.

We are delighted to say that those rooms are now in place and are being used by reablement patients from the area, that is, those who no longer need District General Hospital care but still need support before returning home. These beds are being managed by our experienced residential care team and, if required, supported by clinical colleagues including nurses and allied health professionals.

Although there are four rooms, one of these actually has two beds in it, to allow for a family member/carer to stay with the patient. With this plan, more people will receive more care in their local community, reducing the need for family, friends and carers to travel to district general hospitals or other community hospitals.

David Farnsworth, Powys Teaching Health Board’s Assistant Director of Community Services commented: “Over recent months, we have redecorated the space to make it suitable for the reablement beds and have worked closely with Care Inspectorate Wales to make sure that the rooms are fit for purpose. We have also liaised with Powys County Council’s Social Care team so that they are aware of what we are doing in this area.”

“It is early days but we are delighted with how this temporary arrangement is working.”

Over the last three years the health board has been working hard to recruit registered nurses to join the inpatient team at Knighton Hospital. Whilst there has been some interest, sadly this has not reached the levels needed to run a ward 24 hours a day, seven days a week. As people will have seen on the news, the recruitment of nursing staff is proving a challenge across the UK and   colleagues in Shropshire are having similar issues in Bishops Castle.

Mr Farnsworth added: “I must stress that we are absolutely committed to the continued development of services for people in Knighton and East Radnorshire and will be continuing to work with you to ensure a bright future for Knighton Hospital.”