Rotherham Hospital among worst for patients waiting for a bed
A HOSPITAL chief said cutting down wait times for the most seriously-ill patients in A&E was a “top priority” after figures ranked it among the worst in the country for long waits for a bed.
A HOSPITAL chief said cutting down wait times for the most seriously-ill patients in A&E was a “top priority” after figures ranked it among the worst in the country for long waits for a bed.
NHS England figures revealed more than 50 per cent of patients Rotherham Hospital assessed as needing admission during last December and January had to wait over four hours for a spot on a ward — the fourth highest proportion in England.
George Briggs, chief operating officer for the Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, said their teams were working “flat out” to improve the situation.
“This winter is proving extremely challenging for all parts of the NHS and we are no different,” added Mr Briggs.
“We are seeing a high number of patients coming through the door at the UECC and this is having a knock-on effect in terms of pressures on beds.
“Improving this situation is our top priority and the whole team here, doctors, nurses and support staff, are working flat out to improve our patient flow and help to relieve the pressures and shorten waiting times.”
Mr Briggs added how the trust was one of 14 around the country currently working on a project to field-test a range of new access standards for the NHS.
“This pilot will help to make long-terms improvements to the ways accident and emergency departments operate in the future,” he added.
The news comes after the country prepares for an outbreak of the coronavirus after 15 people have now tested positive for the disease.
In December, 1,635 A&E patients were admitted via A&E, of whom 829 had to wait over four hours for a bed on a ward.
These figures were 1,687 and 874 respectively for January.
A total of 16,725 people sought treatment at the hospital’s Urgent and Emergency Care Centre during those two months.
Ironically, the worst-performing trust for long admission waits via A&E was Shrewsbury & Telford, where former Rotherham Hospital chief executive, Louise Barnett, has just taken over.