-
Welcome to Stafford Forum. Please or sign-up and start posting!
Stafford Hospital - What a car crash
- Thread starter Tumble weed
- Start date
Nicedave
Well-Known Forumite
This Thursday 10 November 2011 the Trust board at Mid Staffs are meeting to discuss the A+E department at Stafford Hospital following the recent CQC inspections. It is likely the A+E department will close overnight with a potential for further discussions on a full closure at some point in the future.
Clearly this has serious concerns over this proposal as the implications are enormous.
If Ambulances have to go to New Cross or North Staffs the emergency cover for the area will be stretched to breaking point and beyond
Clearly this has serious concerns over this proposal as the implications are enormous.
If Ambulances have to go to New Cross or North Staffs the emergency cover for the area will be stretched to breaking point and beyond
John Marwood
I ♥ cryptic crosswords
newspaper article today - Stoke Sentinel
THOUSANDS of extra casualties could overrun North Staffordshire's stretched accident unit if a nearby hospital shuts its A&E at night.
The University Hospital of North Staffordshire is already failing to treat its own patients quickly enough to hit Government targets.
And it will face even greater demands under plans to shut Stafford Hospital's emergency department from 10pm to 8am every day.
The move was expected to be sanctioned today at a meeting of Mid-Staffordshire Hospitals Foundation Trust.
Now NHS officials have been called in for crisis talks to work out how the university hospital will cope.
Chief executive Julia Bridgewater, right, admitted extra patients from Stafford had not been "factored into" a scheme to cut 300 beds before the £400 million superhospital fully opens in 2012.
But she reassured patients their safety would not be threatened.
Mrs Bridgewater said: "Our current plans do not account for Stafford to shut overnight.
"If that is what we have to deal with, then we need to determine how we manage it with different plans. We have to do what is safe for people across the board."
Plans are already in place to ensure the university hospital can cope with winter demands.
New measures to combat queues include extending the opening hours of walk-in centres from 10pm to 2am at weekends and making consultants work longer into the night.
There are also plans to increase the opening times of Haywood Hospital's drop-in facility in Burslem from 10pm to midnight and make X-rays there available out of hours.
Retired social worker Ann Hollingsworth, aged 70, of Leek, who spent 23 hours in a corridor in A&E in April, said: "Our hospital already has difficulties coping with the sheer volume coming through so I don't know how they will deal with even more."
The university hospital's A&E treats 100,000 patients a year. Latest figures show only 93.5 per cent of casualties in September were seen within four hours against a national target of 95 per cent.
Stafford currently sees 70,000 casualties annually. In September, 91 per cent were seen within the target time.
Night-time closures are being considered because Stafford cannot recruit enough A&E consultants.
It's thought they have been deterred by the hospital's poor reputation following recent scandal.
The shutdown would leave about 20,000 patients a year needing to attend other A&Es, but it is unclear how many would be diverted 17 miles to the Potteries or instead travel 18 miles to units in Wolverhampton and Walsall, or 29 miles to Burton.
Dr Paul Golik, North Staffordshire Local Medical Committee secretary, said: "Numbers coming from Stafford at night may be small, but it could be the straw that breaks the camel's back."
Campaigner Ian Syme, co-ordinator of the Healthwatch group, said a report published 18 months ago had warned the university hospital to make "appropriate amendments" for any changes at Stafford Hospital.
He added: "Now there could be serious knock-on problems for our unit."
THOUSANDS of extra casualties could overrun North Staffordshire's stretched accident unit if a nearby hospital shuts its A&E at night.
The University Hospital of North Staffordshire is already failing to treat its own patients quickly enough to hit Government targets.
And it will face even greater demands under plans to shut Stafford Hospital's emergency department from 10pm to 8am every day.
The move was expected to be sanctioned today at a meeting of Mid-Staffordshire Hospitals Foundation Trust.
Now NHS officials have been called in for crisis talks to work out how the university hospital will cope.
Chief executive Julia Bridgewater, right, admitted extra patients from Stafford had not been "factored into" a scheme to cut 300 beds before the £400 million superhospital fully opens in 2012.
But she reassured patients their safety would not be threatened.
Mrs Bridgewater said: "Our current plans do not account for Stafford to shut overnight.
"If that is what we have to deal with, then we need to determine how we manage it with different plans. We have to do what is safe for people across the board."
Plans are already in place to ensure the university hospital can cope with winter demands.
New measures to combat queues include extending the opening hours of walk-in centres from 10pm to 2am at weekends and making consultants work longer into the night.
There are also plans to increase the opening times of Haywood Hospital's drop-in facility in Burslem from 10pm to midnight and make X-rays there available out of hours.
Retired social worker Ann Hollingsworth, aged 70, of Leek, who spent 23 hours in a corridor in A&E in April, said: "Our hospital already has difficulties coping with the sheer volume coming through so I don't know how they will deal with even more."
The university hospital's A&E treats 100,000 patients a year. Latest figures show only 93.5 per cent of casualties in September were seen within four hours against a national target of 95 per cent.
Stafford currently sees 70,000 casualties annually. In September, 91 per cent were seen within the target time.
Night-time closures are being considered because Stafford cannot recruit enough A&E consultants.
It's thought they have been deterred by the hospital's poor reputation following recent scandal.
The shutdown would leave about 20,000 patients a year needing to attend other A&Es, but it is unclear how many would be diverted 17 miles to the Potteries or instead travel 18 miles to units in Wolverhampton and Walsall, or 29 miles to Burton.
Dr Paul Golik, North Staffordshire Local Medical Committee secretary, said: "Numbers coming from Stafford at night may be small, but it could be the straw that breaks the camel's back."
Campaigner Ian Syme, co-ordinator of the Healthwatch group, said a report published 18 months ago had warned the university hospital to make "appropriate amendments" for any changes at Stafford Hospital.
He added: "Now there could be serious knock-on problems for our unit."
proactive
Enjoying a drop of red.
I'd be laughing my head off if it wasn't all so bloody depressing 
Isn't there anyone in a senior management position in the NHS that's capable of acting thoughtfully and of joined up thinking!!!!!!!
I expect the bright idea was planned over a cappuccino in a very plush management office somewhere and went as follows;
Pencil Pusher: "Hey let's cut funding to north staffs and remove 300 beds and whilst we're at it let's shut Stafford A&E at night and send everyone to north staffs where we've just cut the number of beds. That should speed thing up"
Subordinate: "Great, that sounds like a sound plan that should help deliver the level of care people now expect of the NHS"
Isn't there anyone in a senior management position in the NHS that's capable of acting thoughtfully and of joined up thinking!!!!!!!
I expect the bright idea was planned over a cappuccino in a very plush management office somewhere and went as follows;
Pencil Pusher: "Hey let's cut funding to north staffs and remove 300 beds and whilst we're at it let's shut Stafford A&E at night and send everyone to north staffs where we've just cut the number of beds. That should speed thing up"
Subordinate: "Great, that sounds like a sound plan that should help deliver the level of care people now expect of the NHS"
Gramaisc
Forum O. G.
Indeed, I would presume that you would take the person whose arm you have broken to Stoke or even Wolverhampton.adawson said:
It's rather a shame that 'Health Service Manangement' is almost a term of abuse, when what the NHS really needs is competent and effective management.
If they do decide to shut at 10pm, will somebody ring a bell at about a quarter to ten, as a signal for bleeding-up time?
Wolfie Girl
Well-Known Forumite
Just read on Facebook that A&E will be closed overnight from 1 December for a three month period. From 10pm
John Marwood
I ♥ cryptic crosswords
Cameron's Britain
His way of repaying the Stafford electorate for ditching him in
2003?
The death figures will be transfered from SDGH to West Mids Ambulance
Solution?
Move to Selly Oak, never.leave unless its to the QE
His way of repaying the Stafford electorate for ditching him in
2003?
The death figures will be transfered from SDGH to West Mids Ambulance
Solution?
Move to Selly Oak, never.leave unless its to the QE
John Marwood
I ♥ cryptic crosswords
BBC news covering Stafford Hospital closure now
Wherethechuff is our MP?
Wherethechuff is our MP?