Express & Star

Bed shortage sees ambulances diverted from Stafford County Hospital A&E

Ambulances have been diverted away from the A&E department at Stafford's County Hospital due to a shortage of beds.

Published

Crews were told to avoid the Weston Road site between 1pm and 6pm due to 'significant capacity issues' on Wednesday.

A spokesperson from the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, confirmed there had not been enough beds to cope with demand.

Ambulances were instead sent to New Cross in Wolverhampton and Royal Stoke in north Staffordshire.

Campaigners have now questioned how health chiefs can contemplate downgrading one of Staffordshire's three A&E departments – a move announced in December.

Support Stafford Hospital 's Julian Porter said: "What happens if they closed Stafford's A&E? Why on earth would you do that when they are already struggling to cope with the volume of people coming in?"

Dr Ann Marie Morris, emergency medicine consultant and clinical director at the trust, said: "It is no secret that our A&E department has been exceptionally busy throughout 2016 and into the New Year.

"It is normal practice for patients who live on the borders of each hospital's catchment area to be taken to whichever hospital was best able to look after them at peak times.

"The trust works closely with West Midlands Ambulance Service, including working with a hospital liaison officer based at the trust, to help manage demand.

"There are still a number of patients who come to our A&E that could be treated more appropriately in the community, which increases the strain on our resources and it's important the public only attend A&E if it's necessary."

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "On Wednesday County Hospital requested a divert of ambulances because it was experiencing significant capacity issues.

"We agreed to the divert, which lasted from 1pm until 6pm. Patients were transported to New Cross Hospital or Royal Stoke University Hospital."

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.