Belhaven/The Abby
Community Update 28 May 2024
Following the decisions made at the IJB on March 28 regarding services being delivered from The Abbey Care Home, Belhaven Hospital and Blossom House Care Home, this update confirms work continues to identify alternative accommodation for residents, and staff are being supported by their employer.
Residents: East Lothian’s social workers have conducted several 1-1 meetings with The Abbey and Blossom House residents. Assessments continue with residents to support them to move to a new care home. This is being achieved using a person-centred approach, which includes looking at their individual personal needs, with input from their family members. It is anticipated that residents will have moved to their new homes by September 2024.
Staff: We are engaging with our staff and supporting them throughout this transition. This process is being undertaken in partnership with the relevant trade unions.
Buildings: Regarding the future of these properties, NHS Lothian will be leading on the Belhaven Hospital site, and East Lothian Council’s estates team will lead on the Abbey site.
We will continue to provide further updates regarding the position of The Abbey and Belhaven Hospital. Should you have any questions regarding the information shared with you, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Jennifer Jarvis
Senior Communications Advisor | East Lothian Health & Social Care Partnership
John Muir House, Brewery Park, Haddington, EH41 3HA
T: 01620 828765 | Internal: (6765) | Mobile: 07890 904147
E: jjarvis1@eastlothian.gov.uk
Belhaven Community Update – 19 January 2024
Thank you for your patience as we appreciate it has been some time since our last Belhaven Update.
Pressures across NHS Lothian
Over the past winter months, the acute hospitals have, and continue to experience, extreme pressure with higher than expected levels of admissions and continued ongoing care. Subsequently it has been necessary, across all areas of NHS Lothian, to support the acute sites wherever there has been urgent need. This includes our maintenance and facilities teams.
Ward 2: Hub
As a result, the remedial works progress at Belhaven slowed over the past few months, however we are now almost at the point of completing Ward 2. Following a health and safety and infection, prevention and control assessment last week, we have created the final snagging list, and are currently aiming for an entry date in early February for the Vaccinations Team and Occupation Therapists / Physiotherapists to move back into Ward 2.
Garden Tap
In our previous update, we had found issues with the existing plumbing works supporting the garden tap, and although we undertook remedial measures, the rounds of testing continued to return unsatisfactory test results. We continue to look at alternative options, including providing an alternative external water source. This will also have to go through the 3 rounds of 10 days testing to ensure full compliance, before access can be given. We aim to have this in place by early Spring.
Ward 3
Decisions about the future of Ward 3 have not yet been decided. With the pressures in the acute sector, and limited staffing resources, we must, as a priority focus our efforts on delivering the services within East Lothian Community Hospital and ongoing care support at home across the county. This includes our Hospital to Home, Hospital at Home and Care at Home services.
Thank you
We would once again, like to take this opportunity to thank you for your patience and understanding. It has been a long and very difficult time for us all, and we are very much aware of the wider impact these necessary remedial works have had on our wider community stakeholders.
We will continue to keep you informed of further progress.
Belhaven Hospital Community Update 30 August 2023
Belhaven Hospital Update
Thank you for your patience as we appreciate it has been some time since our last Belhaven Update.
Ward 3
We are pleased to inform you that all remedial works in Ward 3 are now complete. Furthermore, we have initiated discussions with the local GP practices about bed provision requirements.
In the meantime the Primary Care Vaccination Team will be occupying a number of rooms within Ward 3 to commence the winter flu / Covid vaccination campaign, offering a dedicated vaccination site to be visited by the local population of Dunbar and its surrounding communities. This placement is temporary until the remedial works in Ward 2 are complete.
Ward 2
As previously detailed before, we encountered an unforeseen delay with Ward 2, after identifying that a new water calorifier for the hot water supply would need to be ordered and fitted. This has now arrived, and is in the process of being fitted.
Our onsite team are also continuing to carry out the upgrades to Ward 2 to provide a clinical space for the vaccination team. It is estimated that the Ward 2 Hub will be reopened in October, although an exact date has not been confirmed.
Garden Taps
In our last update to you at end of June, we were getting optimistic about the availability of the Garden Tap following an initial clear round of testing. However this was short lived. The second round of testing provided unstable results which required further action to be taken. Remedial works have been required on the Haven building, in line with Wards 1, 2 and 3. Further investigations have also identified the unsuitability of existing plumbing works to fit filters to the existing taps, and as such replacements needed to be sought.
We have now commenced a new round of testing following the remedial works. Please be assured that we remain committed to resolving this issue and providing outdoor water and toilet access. We will continue to provide updates in due course.