Shropshire's A&E waiting times second worst in country

Figures in a new report to Telford & Wrekin health commissioners show nearly a third of patients – 32 per cent – were not seen at Telford and Shrewsbury’s emergency departments within the target four-hour time-frame.

Until the end of the month, the threat of an overnight closure had been hanging over Telford’s A&E department at Princess Royal Hospital due to a lack of staff.

However, it was eventually announced that the department would remain open after a mixture of locum and agency middle grade doctors committed to rotas until the end of March.

For November, NHS statistics ranked Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust second worst in the country for A&E waiting times and in five cases patients faced 12-hour waits to be admitted.

More than 11,000 people attended the county’s A&Es at PRH and Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

The only trust ranking lower for waiting times was United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, where just 62.4 per cent of patients were seen within four hours.

The Government target is 95 per cent.

A report to Telford & Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Group says there is a focus on improving patient flow out of the hospitals, including access to equipment at weekends and improving pre-midday discharges.

It says an increase in doctors will improve timing of clinical assessment and decision making.

Decision

In November 2017, 73.7 per cent of patients using the county’s emergency centres had been seen within four hours – a marginal improvement – but there were also some 920 fewer attendees.

As the trust entered the winter period, the percentage of patients seen within four hours fell, but the figure started to improve again as spring approached.

The decision made last year to keep Telford’s A&E fully open followed widespread criticism, with more than 30,000 people signing a petition calling for a Government-backed rescue plan and 3,000 people marching through Wellington.

An overnight closure would have forced some patients to travel to A&Es out of the county.

Hospital bosses say there are ongoing efforts to recruit staff and the announcement last year, that the planned Future Fit scheme had secured funding, was helping to attract new consultants.

Up to £312m is expected to be spent on plans to separate emergency and planned care in the county, with health commissioners due to make a final decision in the coming weeks.

Shropshire's A&E challenges 'require long-term solution'

The challenges facing Shropshire’s A&E departments require a long-term solution and the first priority is that patients are treated safely, hospital bosses said today.

Health bosses at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (Sath), which runs Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and Telford’s Princess Royal Hospital, say it continues to be busy.

Last Saturday was one of the busiest days of 2018 when the trust saw 475 patients attending its A&E departments.

That is the equivalent of 20 people an hour, for every hour of the day.

Sara Biffen, deputy chief operating officer at Sath, said: “We know that our performance against the A&E target is not where we want it to be, but our first priority is to ensure our patients are treated safely and appropriately.

“Our A&E departments remain under a great deal of pressure, dealing with increasing attendances and more and more complex conditions, such as respiratory problems, which means more people are being admitted into our hospitals.

“In November we saw more than 11,000 patients attend our A&E departments, with around 3,500 of those arriving by ambulance.”

Challenges

She thanked staff for their hard work and people have been asked to only go to A&E if it is an emergency.

She added: “The challenges we face are well known and require a long-term strategic solution.

“In the meantime, we continue to work with our partners both in the NHS and in social care so that those patients who no longer need the specialist care we provide can leave our hospitals in a safe and timely manner.

“We would ask people to please think carefully about alternative local services, which can avoid what can be a lengthy and stressful visit to hospital.

“Many conditions can be seen much more quickly using alternative services and A&E should only be used for the most serious injuries and illnesses.

“Pharmacies are often seen simply as dispensaries for medication, but pharmacists are experts in medicines and will use their clinical expertise, together with their practical knowledge to offer advice on common problems such as coughs, colds, aches and pains and can also help you decide whether you need to see a doctor.

“NHS 111 can provide medical help fast when it’s not a 999 emergency.”

Sara said that Sath is among the best in the country for making sure patients wait no longer than 18 weeks between seeing their GP and having treatment at hospital.

The trust is ranked ninth out of 126 hospital trusts in the UK for ensuring patients have planned operations and care within 18 weeks of referral.