Staff and patients reveal fears about Falkirk community workers moving into hospital roles

Mental health staff normally based in the community have reportedly been called in to work in Forth Valley Royal Hospital.
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This has led to workers and patients taking to social media to express their concerns over the move, despite NHS Forth Valley officials giving assurances such moves are still in the planning stage and not required at this time.

In one online post, a community patient stated: “NHS Forth Valley mental health teams have moved to tier three of their contingency plan in the fight against coronavirus. This means their staff are being moved to other departments on a triage basis.

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“Therapy has been suspended for patients so it is important we all look out for each other during these uncertain times. If you are a current patient with the mental health team then you will still be able to contact them if you are having a particularly bad time.

There are concerns over community health workers being placed into new roles at Forth Valley HospitalThere are concerns over community health workers being placed into new roles at Forth Valley Hospital
There are concerns over community health workers being placed into new roles at Forth Valley Hospital

“You may not be able to speak to your own therapist, but there will be someone manning the phones.”

Workers also went online to inform people they had been redeployed from their community roles to posts within FVRH mental health unit from the start of this week.

Some stated they were nervous and apprehensive about this move.

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Last night an NHS Forth Valley spokesperson said people had got the wrong idea, perhaps after hearing discussions about the proposals to move community staff to work in wards in the hospital – proposals that are on “stand by” if they are required.

It was stated staff could be selected for redeployment if they were no longer able to carry out their normal roles in the community due to the current coronavirus restrictions.

It was stated if people were taken from their community roles there would still be employees available to care for community patients and no workers would be asked to do something which was outside their skill level.

NHS Forth Valley also stated these proposals were a “two-way” process, with staff from FVRH possibly going out to help in the community if it was so required.