Hospital patients in Wolverhampton are being sent to nursing homes to recuperate in a bid to free up beds following a surge in emergency admissions.
Hundreds more people than expected have flooded through the doors of the A&E department at New Cross Hospital in the last five months, which bosses described today as “consistent pressure”. An extra ward has been opened and 40 more nurses are starting this month, including new recruits from the University of Wolverhampton.
An increase in the elderly population has been given as the reason for the boom in numbers, which chiefs say have been controlled in recent years by the launch of walk-in health centres for minor injuries and ailments, such as the Phoenix Centre in Parkfields.
They are now asking people in the city to think twice about whether they really need to go to hospital or can access another part of the health service such as NHS Direct.
Between October last year and last month, the hospital admitted a total of 771 additional emergency patients compared to October 2006 to February 2007.
Admissions peaked in January when figures were up 10 per cent on the previous year.
Chief operating officer Phil Milligan said: “In January we had an increase level of admissions and that is something we are still seeing some two-and-a-half months later. It is consistent pressure.
“We have taken a range of measures such as opening more capacity with a extra ward, and at times we have thought about opening more capacity.
“We have also been using step down beds, which are beds in areas such as nursing homes or social care resource centres where patients who have finished their acute care can go for convalescence.
“I would urge people to think about whether they need the hospital or can use another part of the health service which is available to them these days.”
5 Comments
As a former nurse of 25 years, I am not surprised at this and remember similar things happening in the early 1980’s during Maggies period of office. In those days the cause was called bed blocking -SO NO CHANGE THERE THEN REALLY !!
Good grief,they will be asking us not to be ill or get cancer next!
Where do the people who make statements like “use other parts of the nhs and nhs direct” think we should go when were ill.
I have breast cancer and im sorry that i am ill and sick with my treatment but am i sorry if i have to occupy an nhs bed,NO i am not,i have paid my taxes,served my queen and country,i was injured in the line of duty badly,but im not a whinger i support all the nurses that look after me at New Cross and Stafford General.
Maybe if teh goverment payed attention to the influx of immigrants and asylum seekers we wouldnt be struggling as a county any more.
Whats great about britian theses days…Its great to come here and get everything for free!!!
Sounds like a surefire way to REDUCE the elderly & vunerable population.
well said gaynor run for prime minister youve got my vote
Just another example of the inadequate service provided by New Cross Hospital. As already mentioned this is an on-going situation and a total disgrace. It just shows the lack of respect for all the potential users.