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Neighbourhood team numbers below par
9:25am Tuesday 3rd July 2007
Comments (0)Only eight out of 11 neighbourhood teams of health professionals are operating in Wiltshire.
The Wiltshire Primary Care Trust said last Friday that ten out of the 11 teams would be operating from yesterday but last night it said only eight were operating.
The teams employ nurses, therapists and support workers to treat patients at home and are replacing community hospital beds which are closing beginning with those at Devizes Hospital at the weekend.
Each time is due to have an average of 29 full time staff and their hours of working are 7am to 10pm.
Staff are concerned about the rotas and hours they are expected to work and the teams not operating are in the following areas: Marlborough, Pewsey, Ludgershall and Tidworth; Calne, Corsham and Box; Malmesbury, Sherston, Cricklade, Wootton Bassett and Purton.
Bosses at the PCT were locked in talks with unions yesterday to try to resolve the staff concerns and are today due to issue a statement on an agreed way forward.
It is the second hitch to affect the teams as they were originally due to start operating 24 hours a day but days before they were due to start operating the PCT said this would not happen until October.
Roger Davey, senior steward for Wiltshire and Swindon for the health union Unison, said: "There's not enough staff to cover the extended hours of the teams.
"Nurses have to work different shifts which is impossible for some with childcare responsibilities."
Tony Barron, chairman of the PCT, said this morning: "Eight out of 11 teams is a significant number to be up and running.
"There are some minor issues to be resolved in the other three teams. Some of the staff are not one hundred per cent happy as to what has been suggested as to the rotas and hours of work.
"It's taking a little longer to bring in services and we have kept open facilities where the teams are not up and running.
"We are fulfilling every promise we have made and will continue to do so."
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