Palliative care beds paused over lack of staffing

Palliative care beds have been temporarily taken out of use for end-of-life patients due to an "unexpected shortfall in consultant cover", an NHS trust said.

Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) said the six affected beds at Danetre Hospital in Daventry would instead be used for rehabilitation.

The hospital was rebuilt in 2006 and includes community beds, therapy services and mental health services.

In a statement, NHFT said: "A recruitment process is ongoing, and once the medical cover has been resolved, the beds will switch back to being palliative care beds."

"We understand the importance of local quality palliative care for patients and their families in Daventry and the surrounding areas.

"We thank our local community for their support for Danetre Community Hospital and apologise for any inconvenience while we work to restore our palliative care provision at this site."

NHFT also has palliative care beds at Cynthia Spencer and Cransley Hospices.

Stuart Andrew, Daventry MP and Shadow Health Secretary, posted on social media that concerns had been raised with him, and he was seeking a meeting with healthcare leaders to understand the longer-term plans for Danetre Hospital.

"I know this will still leave many residents with questions about the future of these services locally," he said.

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