§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many patients have been transferred out of East Fortune hospital because of recent ward closures; if he will list the hospitals or other places to which they have been transferred; and what information he has as to whether any of those patients have subsequently died;
436W(2) if he will make a statement on the employment of NHS staff affected by the closure of wards at East Fortune hospital.
§ Mr. Michael Forsyth[holding answer 20 February 1991]: A total of 17 long-stay and 11 geriatric assessment patients have been transferred from East Fortune hospital to the following hospitals:
Long-stay Assessment Edenhall hospital 13 — Belhaven hospital 3 — St. Andrew's voluntary residential home, Dunbar 1 — Roodlands hospital — 11 Two patients have since died in Edenhall hospital. One was aged 89 years and the other aged 80 years. Both patients were suffering from several chronic illnesses. I am assured by Lothian health board that it is not unusual for two elderly and ill patients to die in one ward within a period of two to three weeks, especially at this time of year.
Out of a total of 98 staff who could not remain at the hospital, 95 have been found suitable alternative posts. The remaining three staff have opted for redundancy as no suitable alternative posts which were acceptable to those staff could be found.