Stafford hospital trust one of worst for A&E waiting times in UK
The trust that runs County Hospital in Stafford is one of the worst for A&E waiting times in the country, new figures show.
Only 61.5 per cent of patients were seen within four hours at Royal Stoke University Hospital, which is run by University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust.
The trust, which also runs County Hospital, saw 77.8 per cent of people within the target time across both its hospitals - still making it the fourth worst for the times in the country.
The Government set target is 95 per cent.
The figures come as it emerged Dr Magnus Harrison, one of the main bosses in the A&E departments at both County and Royal Stoke University Hospital, has announced he is leaving.
The figures, for the week ending March 22, showed 95 per cent of patients were seen within the target time at County Hospital.
Since November 1 last year, some services have moved from Stafford to Stoke as part of a major overhaul of health services in the county.
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More patients now than before are treated at Stoke rather than Stafford.
Mark Hackett, chief executive of the UHNM, said: "Royal Stoke, like so many hospitals across the country, continues to experience significantly increased demand for its emergency service, particularly from people over 75 years old who are staying in hospital longer than in previous years.
"As a result, this has seen our bed occupancy increase and the rate of discharge levels reduce which has severely affected our ability to hit the A&E target.
"County Hospital is currently meeting the 95 per cent four hour standard, and that is fantastic news for staff and the people of Stafford and the surrounding areas.
"We are encouraging people locally to use their 111 service, their local GP and their local pharmacy were possible as well as working with our community partners to manage demand.
"The trust is working tirelessly to address this problem, which ultimately must be based in developing services to prevent admission and speed up discharge, by upping suitable capacity in the community."
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Dr Harrison, who is currently clinical director for emergency medicine, is taking up the role of medical director at Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in June.
Mr Hackett said: "This is a fantastic achievement for Magnus and this new role is a richly deserved reward for his valuable contributions to the trust and improving services for local patients.
"While we are sad to lose Magnus, we are extremely pleased that he will continue to be part of the wider health community across Staffordshire. He will be sorely missed by colleagues across the trust."
The trust will recruit a new clinical director for emergency medicine in due course, bosses say.
Paediatric services are moving from Stafford to Stoke in May.
