Concerns have been raised about mental health cover in west Norfolk as three out of five consultants at a unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital are moving on.
A document from the region's mental health service – the Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust (NSFT) – spoke of fears for treatment and training at the King's Lynn hospital when the three consultants at the Fermoy Unit leave. 'There is cause for serious concern about west Norfolk,' the board papers said.
At a board meeting of the NSFT yesterday, Bohdan Solomka, medical director at the trust, said: 'All methods are being explored at the moment. Three are leaving and we are determined to get three in there, by hook or by crook.'
One consultant is taking a career break, another is moving elsewhere in the trust and the third is moving to London because of his partner's work.
The trust said that three locum consultants had been recruited as replacements. Locums are more expensive than staff.
Dr Solomka said: 'In the longer term we will be looking to recruit permanent replacements but the service is, and will be, fully covered.'
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here