Hospitals put on high alert

Shropshire’s two main hospitals were today at bursting point with staff being placed on the highest state of alert after being hit by a huge rise in emergency admissions.

The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and Telford’s Princess Royal have seen a large increase in cases involving the elderly and young children suffering from chest infections.

Private facilities are being used to ensure sufficient beds and some day surgery cases have been cancelled.

Off-duty consultants have also been asked to come in to ensure there was no “bed blocking” and that well patients were being discharged on time.

Worried bosses at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust are now keeping a close eye on this weekend’s weather amid fears that freezing temperatures could lead to more people falling ill with res- piratory problems, adding to the pressure on already stretched services.

The Shropshire County and Telford & Wrekin Primary Care Trusts today advised people to take “simple measures” to make sure that they keep warm and well to help avoid unnecessary admissions.Hospitals’ chief executive, Tom Taylor, said: “We have been incredibly busy all week.

“There have been a lot of chest infections, largely in the over-60s and among children. These are the most vulnerable.”

Mr Taylor moved the two hospitals to what is known as Level Four Escalation on Wednesday evening. This is the highest state of alert when the hospitals are running at full capacity. Thirty- nine day surgery patients were called to say that there operations were being cancelled.

“We are using every bed available, including private facilities,” said Mr Taylor.

He added that managers were “very much” on weather watch for the weekend.

So far the trust has not had to ask hospitals outside the county for help and spokesman Adrian Osborne said it was re-opening for day surgery today. He also thanked staff for their hard work and the goodwill they had shown.

To help reduce admissions, the two primary care trusts are advising people over 65 and those with long-term health conditions to get the flu jab.