Over the weekend News OnTheWight was contacted by several readers expressing concern about ‘news’ that the end of life care ward at St Mary’s Hospital would be downsizing from 12 to three beds.
News OnTheWight is pleased to be able to confirm this is incorrect information, possibly driven from crossed-wires somewhere, but the unit – which is being temporarily moved during building works – currently has three beds and in its new location, will still have three beds.
The inaccurate information about the ‘downsizing’ of the unit circulated around social media at the weekend, copy and pasted many times.
“Moved temporarily to another part of St Mary’s Hospital”
A spokesperson for Isle of Wight NHS Trust told News OnTheWight,
“The care provided on Wellow Unit is among the best in the NHS and we understand how much it means to our colleagues, patients, and their loved ones.
“We are responding to significant, longstanding pressure in the wider hospital and working to use the limited space we have available as efficiently as possible.
“This means that Wellow will be moved temporarily to another part of St Mary’s Hospital in the coming days while essential building works are carried out and a long-term home for this excellent service is found.”
Image: © Used with the kind permission of Auntie P
