Labour’s parliamentary candidate, Alasdair Morrison, has demanded that the Scottish
Health Minister provides funds to Bethesda Care Home and Hospice to help address
the bed blocking issues at Western Isles hospital.
Alasdair Morrison said: "Despite the best efforts of our excellent NHS staff they
are working in demanding conditions where too many of their patients are being kept
in hospital when they should really be cared for in a “step-
“I was shown the facility that could house these much needed beds for people who don’t need the level of medical care a hospital provides but need to be cared for in a facility that will see them through the period until they are fit enough to their own homes.”
He added: “Both the council and the local health board are to be commended for allocating
revenue money that would pay for the day-
“Currently there is room in the upper part of Bethesda that could accommodate these much needed beds, which in turn would immediately relieve the bed blocking at the Western Isles hospital.”
Mr Morrison said funding of £450,000 pounds would get the facility furnished and allow Bethesda to “care for people who are looking for a step down facility which in turn will allow them to return to their own homes when they improve.”
He added: “If the SNP is serious about tackling this challenge the minister must address this matter immediately by providing capital funding.”
Call for Bethesda funding
26 February 2015