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STV News
02-07-2025
- Health
- STV News
Families left 'scrambling' as secure ward to close within weeks
A secure hospital ward for people with complex learning disabilities in North Ayrshire is set to close within weeks, leaving vulnerable patients and their families scrambling to make alternative arrangements. The local health and social care partnership (HSCP) has decided to permanently close Ward 7A at Woodland View hospital from July 14 after the care within the ward 'fell far short of standards and expectations'. The 206-bedroom mental health facility and community hospital near Irvine was built in 2016, and Ward 7A is an eight-bed unit that provides assessment and treatment for patients who have complex learning disabilities and complex mental health needs, often associated with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. The ward has experienced 'significant challenges' for several years, according to partnership director Caroline Cameron. 'These challenges are mainly due to delays in discharge for patients to move to more appropriate community settings, an increasingly unsuitable physical environment for our patients, recruitment and retention of staff, and incidences of violence and aggression in the ward,' Ms Cameron said. 'Despite the commitment of our dedicated staff group and clinical team, the care within Ward 7A, Woodland View, has fallen far short of our standards and expectations. 'The challenges in Ward 7A have not improved and it is no longer suitable for patients to remain there.' The decision, announced to families and carers just one month before the ward's date of closure, has left families scrambling to find appropriate alternative accommodation. Fraser Malcolm, who has been in the hospital for four years, is one of the Ward 7A patients who will be impacted. Fraser, now 21, has limited speech and a rare chromosomal condition that affects one out of 85,000 to 100,000 males. STV News Andrew and Karen Malcolm Before he was sectioned, Karen Malcolm, Fraser's mum, described him as a 'very sociable wee person' who was active in the sailing community, well-known at the local horse stables, and 'the heart and soul of the party' on family occasions. The problems started during the Covid lockdowns when 17-year-old Fraser couldn't see family or loved ones and didn't get to do the things he enjoyed. 'We'd reached out to social work quite a few times to ask for help, and their solution was to phone the police,' Karen said. 'Fraser was taken away from home on March 9 by police to Woodland View hospital. We were told he was there for a six-to-12-week assessment. He is still there to this day.' Andrew and Karen have been fighting to get their son out of Woodland View for the past four years. They have a litany of complaints and concerns about the facility and how they've treated Fraser since he was sectioned. Andrew Malcolm, Fraser's dad, said they have raised multiple concerns and asked 'awkward questions' about his treatment in the facility over the years, but said they have been 'shut out'. They say they have only been able to see their son from a window for a year. 'We haven't been in Fraser's room for a year now,' Andrew said. 'We used to hold the NHS in high regard, but I have to say our experience of the HSCP is absolutely shocking. 'You go to hospitals to make people better, but Fraser is considerably worse.' Andrew said the hospital has 'taken away Fraser's basic human rights'. 'He's profoundly deaf; he wears hearing aids, but in Woodland View, he doesn't. They took his hearing aids off of him because on one occasion he put his hearing aids in his mouth. 'He's doing it because there's nothing else to do. His room has nothing in it. He has no TV, no nothing. 'They've put film up on his window so he can't see out. He's in a prison cell. 'He's in there, doesn't know what's happening, can't hear, can't talk, and he comes to his own conclusions about what's happening and what's not happening. He's a very angry, confused young man who needs his family there, and his family's been excluded. 'The whole thing is just staggering. It's going back to the dark ages of institutions. Woodland View is an institution in a modern building. Fraser, along with six other individuals, is stuck in there.' Andrew and Karen said they were finally making progress towards getting Fraser out of Woodland View and into his own house when they received a letter from the partnership, on June 13, warning them that the ward would be closing in four weeks. They had assembled a care team and put together a 'robust 12-week discharge plan' to help Fraser transition. They said that it has all been taken away with the abrupt closure of the facility. 'We now have to compress a 12-week discharge plan into eight days,' Andrew said. The letter said Woodland View would work with families and patients to find 'an alternative placement or another hospital facility where they can receive care as close to home as possible'. While Fraser's family is 'ecstatic' that he's finally leaving the facility, they are extremely concerned about the short timeframe and a lack of transition. 'We want to get Fraser out and keep him out. And that can be done, but not in what is now eight days,' Andrew said. 'The whole thing disgusts me. It makes me really, really angry that we're in this situation. 'I don't think we've slept since we heard the news. We're so concerned about how he's going to react to this. 'I'm hoping something [registers] with him that 'this is better'. We're clinging to the idea that anything is better than where he is now. 'We're elated he's coming out of hospital, we're ecstatic. But he has to stay out of hospital. Without the transition, there's a high risk he may not.' In a follow-up response to the Malcolms, the partnership recognised that the 'situation and timescales are not ideal to support a perfect discharge from hospital, but on a balance of risk, there is no option for Ward 7A to remain open beyond July 14'. Ms Cameron added that the patients in Ward 7A are 'all delayed discharges whose medical input and treatment has ended.' 'These patients are not being cared for in the most appropriate place to meet their health and care needs,' she said. She said the partnership is 'committed to ensuring that people are only in hospital for as long as they require assessment and treatment'. 'Discussions are ongoing with patients, their guardians, staff, and other healthcare professionals, including other NHS Boards and local authorities, to make sure robust discharge plans are in place and implemented.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Glasgow Times
01-07-2025
- Health
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow councillor brands pupil vape use stats 'terrifying'
During Thursday's full council meeting, Councillor Jill Pidgeon asked what steps were being taken by the local authority to mitigate the increase in vape use in schools. Councillor Pidgeon was advised that vaping among young people in Glasgow's schools had become a growing concern, with data showing 'a significant rise in usage' and this was linked to an increase in disposable vape use. At the beginning of June, the UK government banned the sale of disposable vapes which applies to all single-use or disposable vapes regardless of whether they contain nicotine. It means that businesses can no longer sell either online or in-store. Speaking about the issue, Councillor Christina Cannon, convenor for education and early years, said: 'Between 2018 and 2022, the percentage of 15-year-olds reporting vape use in the past 30 days jumped from 7% to 25%. 'This increase is closely linked to the rise of disposable vapes and the impact of the Covid pandemic. Alarmingly, the use of disposable vapes among 11 to 17-year-olds in Great Britain has surged from 7.8% in 2020 to 69% in 2023. 'Nicotine use at a young age can negatively affect brain development impacting learning, mood, concentration and self control. It also increases the risk of long-term addiction. 'In response, Glasgow's education services are working closely with the Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) and NHS health improvement to deliver targeted education across all of our schools. 'We recognise that schools can't tackle this issue alone and we remain committed to working with key partners to develop a coordinated and effective response.' READ MORE: Glaswegians urged to help tackle illegal vape sales Councillor Pidgeon described the latest figures as 'terrifying'. She said: 'Would the convenor agree that there should be a focus on the Scottish Parliament to look into this in a similar way that the UK government has done with their tobacco and vape bills as a priority.' Councillor Cannon advised that she was committed to working with all partners and both governments to try and tackle the issue. She added: 'This is something that young people have raised with me directly in my visits to schools. Our young people are really keen on taking a lead on how we best communicate with them on how to quit vaping. 'I am more than committed to working with various partners, both governments and the young people to help them take this leadership in their schools as well.' Questions were then asked as to what steps were being taken to protect young people in schools who were not vaping but being subjected to vaping. Councillor Jill Brown said: 'We have examples of where young people are vaping in bathrooms which often don't have a huge amount of ventilation in them, then other children and young people who don't vape are having to go into those environments.' Councillor Cannon responded: 'I think the support has to go towards the young people who are vaping. I am aware of the toilet issue as well and our head teachers are very well aware of that. 'It's about finding the balanced approach of not punishing a whole school for a small number of pupils undertaking vaping particularly indoors and within the school building as well. 'I am happy to work with you to see what individual approach we can tailor to each school.'
Daily Record
01-07-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Carers vow to fight service cuts with "everything they have" after protest in Paisley
Campaigners gathered on Friday as uncertainty surrounds the future of services relied upon by their loved ones. Carers have vowed to fight cost-cutting proposals with everything they have after picking up their placards and descending on Renfrewshire House. Dozens of campaigners gathered in protest on Friday as uncertainty surrounds the future of Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) services relied upon by their loved ones. Demonstrators rallied and held their signs aloft in Paisley's Cotton Street – weeks after stark detail was published on measures which have been suggested to help close a multi-million-pound budget gap. Having already spoken of their exhaustion, they declared they will press on until a final decision is made at the integration joint board, which oversees the HSCP, in September. Linda Murray, a representative of the Renfrewshire Learning Disability Carers Group, said: "It's a case of making them aware that we're not going to lie down to it. We will fight with everything we have. "We know there needs to be cuts. We're all in the same boat ourselves, we're having to cut the cloth to suit today's climate, so we totally get that but there's still a feeling of it seems to be very disabled-heavy with the cuts. "Ten per cent to another service might be nothing but ten per cent to our guys is the world basically." Linda, whose daughter Gillian attends Milldale day service, continued: "We have to keep going. That's all we can do." If approved at the IJB, day services for people with learning and physical disabilities would operate across three hubs – Milldale in Linwood and the Anchor Centre and Spinners Gate in Paisley. Services would no longer use Paton's Resource Centre in Johnstone or the Mirin at Lagoon Leisure Centre and the Disability Resource Centre in Paisley. There could also be changes to respite provision at Weavers Linn, with people deemed in 'critical need' receiving up to 28 nights per year and in 'substantial need' receiving up to 21 nights. In older adult day services, the closure of Ralston Day Centre has been proposed and people would instead be offered a place at facilities in Johnstone and Renfrew. Autism Connections and Flexicare, which support people with autism and learning disabilities, could be shut down while the HSCP could make a saving by ending the assertive outreach model, which helps people with learning disabilities with high care needs. Other ideas include removing three staff posts from the health visiting team through retirement or not filling vacancies and the scaling back of the Childsmile programme. Jennifer Lindsay, who has family members who attend the Disability Resource Centre and Milldale, said it felt like "everyone was coming together" at the protest. She added: "I have two autistic sons so not only am I fighting for the family members I have just now in these centres, I'm fighting for the future of both my kids because if these proposals happen, dare I say it, is there going to be anything for kids in the future? "If these centres go from six to three just now, by the time my kids leave school and reach adult services, there could be next to nothing. "When something else could be closing or there's disappointing news from another avenue that's going to affect vulnerable kids, adults, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, it can feel as if it's across the board. "If there's a time when it feels like, what is the point in this because they're just going to keep coming back for something else, you have to dig deep and keep going and that's exactly what we've all had to do. "We've had to rally round and say, we're not fighting for one centre any more, we're fighting for everything." A budget gap of £18.5 million was recently predicted for the HSCP for 2026/27 – a figure that could increase further in the years to follow. An HSCP spokesperson said: "IJBs across Scotland are currently facing significant financial challenges. Renfrewshire IJB considered around £19m of possible savings options across HSCP service areas last December. "This reflected the IJB's decision that savings of 10 per cent across all influenceable service budgets should be identified, wherever possible. "Several proposals were approved at the time which will be delivered through internal redesign and will deliver savings and protect frontline services where possible. This included proposals for how we deliver care at home, community nursing, primary care support and community mental health. "We are engaging with our staff around these proposals and the revised models for these areas are in development. Responsibility for implementation and monitoring of these proposals has been delegated to the HSCP's sustainable futures programme board. "Further proposals were to be developed with feedback gathered through public engagement. These were developed through discussion with service users, carers, impacted staff and partners. As part of our engagement approach, we offered people a variety of ways to share their views on the proposals. "The feedback gathered will be used to help IJB voting members understand the impact each proposal would have when they meet to review the updated proposals at their meeting in September. No decisions will be made on any of these proposals until then."
Daily Record
20-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Carers urged to find 'inner strength' and protest cost-cutting proposals in Renfrewshire
Campaigners set to pick up their placards and make their voices heard again over potential health and social care cuts. Carers have been urged to find their "inner strength" and protest cost-cutting proposals that would affect some of Renfrewshire's most vulnerable people. Campaigners are set to pick up their placards and make their voices heard again next week after Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) published stark detail on potential measures to close its budget gap earlier this month. Documents released as part of the engagement process provided grim substance to plans that were discussed at the integration joint board (IJB) – which oversees the HSCP – last year. The range of services that could be impacted cater to people with learning and physical disabilities and autism as well as older adults and children. It comes just over a year after carers won their battle to prevent the amalgamation of Mirin and Milldale day services – an idea which was voted down at the IJB last April. But they plan to return to Renfrewshire House on Friday, June 27, to fight fresh proposals, including a redesign of day services for people with learning and physical disabilities, a respite review and other possible closures. Linda Murray, a representative of the Renfrewshire Learning Disability Carers Group, said: "We knew it wasn't a done deal last year. We basically got a stay of execution. "We're tired, we're exhausted, it took a lot out of all of us and we expected to at least get a couple of years' grace but we knew it wasn't over. "They're making all these proposals but they can't give us an idea of what the services are going to look like going forward. There's no substance behind the numbers. "It just seems to be all about the money and not about the people, the lives and the impact that this is going to have on those people. I said the same last year, it's pounds over people. "It seems to be a constant battle but I would just ask people to find that inner strength that I know that they've all got and give us another 45 minutes to an hour on Friday, June 27, to show solidarity for the services that are impacted." If approved at the IJB in September, day services for people with learning and physical disabilities would operate across three hubs – Milldale at the On-X in Linwood and the Anchor Centre and Spinners Gate in Paisley. Services would no longer use Paton's Resource Centre in Johnstone or the Mirin at Lagoon Leisure Centre and the Disability Resource Centre in Paisley. There could also be changes to respite provision at Weavers Linn, with people deemed in 'critical need' receiving up to 28 nights per year and in 'substantial need' receiving up to 21 nights. In older adult day services, the closure of Ralston Day Centre has been proposed and people would instead be offered a place at facilities in Johnstone and Renfrew. Autism Connections and Flexicare, which support people with autism and learning disabilities, could be shut down while the HSCP could make a saving by ending the assertive outreach model, which helps people with learning disabilities with high care needs. Other ideas include removing three staff posts from the health visiting team through retirement or not filling vacancies and the scaling back of the Childsmile programme. Linda, whose daughter Gillian has Down syndrome and a learning disability, has criticised a number of the suggestions put forward by the HSCP. She added: "We're all realistic people, we've all had to cut our cloth with the financial crisis that's going on just now and we totally understand that, but I just think it's been done so haphazardly and the areas that they're cutting and making savings on are so ill-conceived. "The learning disability community and the physical disability community as well now seem to be an easy target." An HSCP spokesperson said: "IJBs across Scotland are currently facing significant financial challenges. "In recognition of this position, Renfrewshire IJB considered around £19m of possible savings options across HSCP service areas when it met in December 2024. "This reflected the IJB's decision that savings of 10 per cent across all influenceable service budgets should be identified, wherever possible. "Several proposals were approved at the time, which will enable the HSCP to deliver operational efficiencies and achieve savings through the redesign of internal service models. "This included proposals for care at home, community nursing, primary care support and community mental health. We are engaging with our staff around these proposals and the revised models for these areas are in development. "Responsibility for implementation and monitoring of these proposals has been delegated to the HSCP's sustainable futures programme board. "The proposals that are currently open to the live public engagement process were also considered in December 2024 and the IJB agreed that these should be further developed, with feedback gathered through public engagement. "The proposals currently being discussed were developed through ongoing discussion with service users, carers, impacted staff and partners. "As part of our engagement approach, we have offered people a variety of ways to share their views on the proposals. This is well underway, but options will be available for them to contribute until the end of June. "Feedback gathered will be used to help IJB voting members understand the impact each proposal would have when they meet to review the updated proposals at their meeting in September. "However, it is important to emphasise that no decisions will be made on any of these proposals until then."
Daily Record
16-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
'Investment in saving lives': Contract for alcohol and drugs crisis outreach service approved by Renfrewshire councillors
Elected members authorised senior officers to award deal to nationwide charitable organisation Change, Grow, Live. A contract for an alcohol and drugs crisis outreach service has been approved by Renfrewshire councillors in a move dubbed an "investment in saving lives". Elected members authorised senior officers to award a deal for the initiative to nationwide charitable organisation Change, Grow, Live. The step was agreed at the council's finance, resources and customer services policy board and the agreement will be for two years with an option to extend for a further year, depending on funding. The contract – which is worth almost £300,000 per annum – is anticipated to start on Friday, August 1, however, the date will be confirmed in the local authority's letter of acceptance. Councillor Graeme Clark, a Labour representative for Paisley Northeast and Ralston, said at the meeting: "Given that drug and alcohol deaths in Renfrewshire continue to be above the Scottish average and given the increasing complexity of those presenting to our services, I believe that Change, Grow, Live can provide a range of services to support individuals, families and communities that's needed. "The charity has considerable experience in working with challenging service users with complex needs including those with entrenched drug habits, offending behaviour, homelessness, antisocial behaviour, domestic violence and social deprivation." He added he has "no doubt" this funding will be an "investment in saving lives". A report, which will be considered at the meeting, explained why the matter had been brought forward to the board for consideration. It said: "The purpose of this report is to seek the approval of the finance, resources and customer services policy board to enter into a contract for Renfrewshire Alcohol and Drugs Crisis Outreach Service with Change, Grow, Live. "The provider will engage with individuals at higher risk of overdose and those who have experienced a near fatal overdose, to provide care and support, and to increase access to life-saving protective treatment. "At present, the service is delivered by the Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) in-house harm reduction response team." Thomas Paterson, service manager for contracts and commissioning at the HSCP, said: "I agree that they come with an awful lot of experience, a significant provider of alcohol and drug services across the UK, and we're certainly excited about the skills and experience they can bring into Renfrewshire. They will be completely embedded within the alcohol and drug recovery services." The costs associated with the deal will be met by Renfrewshire Alcohol and Drug Partnership, which is a partnership consisting of the HSCP, council, Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Scottish Prison Service and voluntary sector. The maximum approved value is up to just under £900,000 for the full contract period. The agreement is for two years with the option to extend for a further year on one occasion, but the extension is fully dependent on Scottish Government funding.
