Shropshire hospitals see surge in winter illnesses
Wednesday 26th January 2011, 6:30PM GMT.
Shropshire’s two main hospitals dealt with nearly 850 more patients than normal last month as they struggled to cope with a rise in winter illnesses, a report showed today.
The Royal Shrewsbury and Princess Royal hospitals had to deal with a huge rise in emergency admissions and A&E patients in the run-up to Christmas.
And the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust, which runs the two centres is unlikely to be paid in full for the extra work, a report being presented to the trust board tomorrow reveals.
Another concern is that “ambulance diversion” schemes which direct patients away from hospital to other areas of care,did not reduce numbers as expected over the same period.
Year-to-date figures show the trust is 5.89 per cent above its emergency admissions plan and 3.11 per cent above plan for A&E attendances.
Rates for last month are much larger at 12.76 per cent and 5.44 per cent respectively.
According to the report, the two units are “frequently” working above the contracted levels.
A “significant increase” in theatre cancellations due to a shortage of beds was also noted. Board members are asked to note that because the trust has exceeded the emergency plan it will receive only 30 per cent of its tariff. The report warns that this leaves the trust in an “extremely difficult position”.
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