SENIOR Scottish doctors have welcomed the first sign that Health Secretary Alex Neil will halt the cutting of hospital beds.
The Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh has also called on the Scottish Government to confirm the decision, saying patient care has been compromised by the pressure on busy wards.
This week, Mr Neil told a health conference in Glasgow that the number of pensioners over 75 is set to double, so even if hospitalisation of the elderly is reduced by 50%, the number of beds, hospitals and nurses would have to stay the same for the NHS to stand still.
However, in recent years the number of hospital beds in Scotland has fallen – dropping 255 last year and 1420 since the SNP came to power.
Dr Neil Dewhurst, president of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, said: "In recent years the number of acute medical beds in Scottish hospitals has been reduced at a time when hospital admissions have been increasing and based on the false assumption that specialised medical care could easily be transferred from hospitals into the community. This has placed considerable, and unnecessary, pressure on hospital services in the NHS. Having highlighted concerns to the Scottish Government about the adverse impact on patients arising from cuts in bed numbers, we welcome the comments made by the Cabinet Secretary."
Asked about the reference to bed numbers in Mr Neil's speech at the Unison conference, a Scottish Government spokesman commented on the protection of the NHS budget from cuts and some investment that has been made in consultant and nursing staff. However, there was no official confirmation that bed numbers will now be protected.
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "We are committed to at least maintaining the level of quality and provision in Scotland's NHS – and that means having the right numbers of staff and beds, in the right place."
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