Question:
A comment is sought on the care of a woman from West Fife who has been an inpatient since June 2025 following a significant deterioration in her mobility and general health.
Response is sought on: -
- The handling of her assessment, diagnosis and the June 2025 attendances at Victoria Hospital, including discharge decisions.
- The standard of ward care and communication with her family, including mobility support, toileting, and exclusion from meetings.
- The rehabilitation and discharge plan, including the reported outpatient waiting time and advice about washing facilities.
Response:
A spokesperson for NHS Fife said:
“While we cannot comment on the care of individuals for reasons of confidentiality, we do take any concerns raised by patients and their families very seriously.
“When patients present at our A&E, they are assessed by experienced clinicians to help determine what immediate next steps are required. Where further investigation or treatment is required urgently, patients will be admitted to hospital where their care is provided by multidisciplinary teams and planned around the patient’s individual needs. Patients are at the centre of the planning process and work alongside our clinicians to make decisions around their ongoing care and treatment.
“Discharge planning, including those requiring rehabilitation, begins immediately on admission to hospital to ensure patients can return home as soon as they are medically fit to do so. Importantly, patients who require ongoing support are only discharged when there is an appropriate package of care in place, and this is coordinated with community services to support a safe and dignified transition of care.
“Some patients may also need access to physiotherapy following discharge. The current average waiting time for rehabilitative physiotherapy in Fife is around seven weeks, however, patients with the greatest clinical need are prioritised to be seen even sooner.
“The family in this case have not yet been in touch with our Patient Experience team to raise their concerns with us directly. We would urge the family to do so in order that their concerns can be explored in more detail.”
[ENDS]
