Restoring confidence to this much-valued institution - August 1

The Irvine Unit at Bexhill Hospital has enjoyed an enviable reputation for innovative rehabilitation work which attracted world-wide attention at its inception. But this has always gone hand-in-hand with its reputation for its standards of patient care.

That something was not as it should be with the unit has been a matter of concern for some months for those who care about its work and seek to support it.

Among these are the volunteers who give their time at the unit, the League of Friends of Bexhill Hospital which is a significant funding partner and the staff themselves.

The report presented to Hastings and Rother Primary Care Trust this week into the detailed review which it has undertaken following a serious complaint by the relative of a patient makes disturbing reading.

But, rather like a boil which has to be lanced, the review process was both proper and necessary.

The review sets out clear and concise guidelines for putting the Irvine Unit back on track to providing the standards of patient care to which the public is both accustomed and entitled.

The review report also makes it clear why painful decisions had to be taken over the temporary closure of beds and of the unit's day hospital.

It is to be hoped that implementation of these principles together with the appointment of a matron and the recruitment of much-needed staff will restore confidence in this much-valued local institution and put back in place its full range of patient services.

Meanwhile, there are lessons to be learned which extend far further than the Irvine Unit or the PCT.

As a nation, we are coming to terms with a dangerous combination of economic factors '“ "credit crunch," soaring fuel and energy costs, rocketing food prices and the rest.

Job losses have already started as the captains of industry cut their crews in order to save their ships.

But, as the Irvine Unit situation painfully reveals, adequate staffing levels are at the very heart of any organisation's well-being '“ whether manufacturing, service, retail or as in this instance public sector.

To cut below a certain level does not save the ship. It risks dashing it on the rocks.

Inadequate staffing can have only one end result. Corners have to be cut.