At the top of Station Hill in Wigton on a crisp, sunny, autumn day there is a hive of activity.
Volunteers outside Wigton Hospital on Cross Lane are directing patients into the car park.
Many of them are here for their COVID-19 jabs, others for routine treatments in the day unit.
Since the inpatient beds at Wigton Hospital were closed in 2018, following a public consultation, a wide range of services continue to be provided at the hospital and patients are now treated at the busy day unit.
Alison Kitson, Community and ICC Operational Lead for Keswick and Solway, said: “There is a misconception that when the inpatient beds closed other services would not be delivered from the hospital but this could not be further from the truth, as we are able to now deliver more care locally to prevent people from going into hospital.
“Health visitors, district nurses, midwives, dialysis and dermatology staff, physiotherapy and oxygen/respiratory teams are all based at the hospital. It’s a busy place.”
Rachel Burns is the Clinical Team Lead for Day Units and Medical Procedures Unit (MPU). She reflects on the bed closures of 2018.
“It was a tough time for us all but since we developed the day unit it’s been great. It’s much more positive now and we’re getting so many referrals.
“The work I do is clinically based. I administer antibiotics, carry out blood transfusions, give catheter care and help with wounds and dressings. It’s a joy to come to work.”
Further down the corridor, respiratory nurse Alona Kerr is busy carrying out an ambulatory oxygen assessment.
“It’s good that the clinics are back now that covid restrictions have been eased,” she said.
In the day unit, two patients sit comfortably reading and listening to the radio while having blood transfusions.
“The day unit gets busier and busier all the time,” said Alison.
Patient Malcolm Sutherland, 66, of Carlisle, regularly receives medication through an intravenous infusion.
He said: “I am a regular visitor to Wigton Hospital – and Maryport Hospital as well. The team that looked after me are great. The nurses are very caring and you get to know them so you can have a proper chat.
“They can often spot other things too. I had an infection in my arm and one nurse spotted it and got it seen to quickly. It’s a great standard of care and the hospital is a great facility.”
Across the hall, a rehabilitation suite gives patients the confidence to get back on their feet. Falls groups and weight management sessions are held there.
Alison said: “People who may have tried different diets can come here for weight management sessions and we can give them some nutritional input.”
Dermatology
Dermatology teams use a suite at the hospital for different procedures and health and wellbeing have a presence here.
Inside the district nurses’ room, it’s a hive of activity. The Keswick and Solway Integrated Care Community (ICC) Hub is next door, where all the referrals come in.
Margaret Wood, administration assistant, has worked at the hospital for 20 years.
She said: “I love coming to work. A lot has changed in 20 years. When I first started there were 26 beds and when the ward closed 12. We used to take patients in for respite back then as well.
“Now we run outpatient clinics, have physio teams here, oxygen nurses, day unit staff and district nurses, OTs, and the ICC hub. It’s a busy place, never stops.
“Technology has changed a lot in 20 years. I enjoy working here. It’s a great team and everyone pulls together.”
Improvement work ongoing
And improvement work is ongoing at the site as part of the plan to further develop what is offered.
Cumbria Learning and Improvement Collaborative and Library Services are turning two rooms into a learning space for staff. “It will be minimalistic and modern,” said Alison.
“It will be a nice space for people to come to with a canopy and patio area outside.”
Plans for a community kitchen are also underway. “We are currently working with our procurement teams on this project. We are in talks with a charity to run it and serve healthy food for staff and patients,” said Alison. It is hoped this project will be up and running in the next six months.
The hospital is supported by The League of Friends charity who regularly raise funds for equipment needed to benefit patient care.
Eveline Dugdale, Chair of The League of Friends, said: “This year, the League of Friends has been very busy selling Christmas cards in the Co-op foyer. We sold 480 packs over two weekends. This is our way of raising money and letting our community see we are still working.
“People don’t realise that all of this happens at Wigton Hospital. I don’t think people know that the district nurses work out of the hospital – a lot of those nurses were formerly on the ward.”
