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The truths they don't want you to read....

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Health Board readmissions

Press release

Cllr Angus Nicolson has hit out at the deterioration in readmission rates in the Western Isles Health Board area as disclosed by the latest NHS statistics.

Said Cllr Nicolson, “The mismanagement of the Western Isles Health Board appears to have an adverse effect on patient mortality and this is a very worrying outcome. With readmission rates in Lewis having increased by up to 90% over seven years, it is clear that the impact of Board decisions have hurt those they are there to protect.”

“Talking to staff, I am constantly amazed at how they manage to cope with the pressures that are imposed upon them by management within such limited resources.”

“I trust that the new interim management will act immediately to focus on clinical priorities and bring the organisation back under control to deliver the level of service that the people of the Western Isles expect and deserve.”

“It is clear to any outsider that the lack of budgetary control is having a dramatic effect on staff morale and service delivery, and this destructive cycle needs to be stopped now!”

ENDS

Notes for editors: The statistics can be found at http://www.indicators.scot.nhs.uk/Trends_July_2006/Med_readm_menu_July_2006.xls which shows that readmission rates within 7 days were up from 2.2% in 1998 to 4.2% in 2005 (91% increase), and from 7.2% in 1999 to 10.6% in 2005 for readmission within 28 days (47% increase).

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