Shropshire A&E pressure easing but still 'very difficult'
The pressure on Shropshire’s A&E departments has eased over the last week but they still face difficulties, health bosses say.
The accident and emergency departments at Telford’s Princess Royal Hospital and Royal Shrewsbury Hospital have faced a high level of demand during the past several weeks and dozens of routine operations have been cancelled.
But Dr Simon Freeman, accountable officer for Shropshire clinical commissioning group (CCG), said there had been an improvement in the past week.
He said there had also been a big push on coordinating services to ensure patients with complex discharge needs are able to safely leave hospital.
Dr Freeman said: “A&E performance has improved over the last week but it is still very difficult.
“What we need is for people to consider whether they really need to go to A&E.”
“They should only be used for the most serious injuries and illnesses.”
He said the CCG had also been reviewing community care to ensure frail elderly people can be cared for in their own homes where possible, avoiding unnecessary admissions to hospital.
Dr Freeman said: “We are looking at developing solutions to look after frail elderly people in the community. We are working with GPs across the county.”
He said the CCG had been looking at access to services and how the intermediate care service can be enhanced.
News over whether the controversial Future Fit process can continue to public consultation was still eagerly awaited, Dr Freeman said.
NHS England wants to know that the funding is available for the scheme, which aims to shake-up hospital services in the county.
But Dr Freeman said the CCG remained hopeful about hearing news soon.
The preferred option of Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin CCGs is making Royal Shrewsbury Hospital home of the county’s main emergency centre, while Princess Royal Hospital would be the home of planned care.
Meanwhile, Health Minister and Ludlow MP Philip Dunne has defended the government’s handling of the NHS this winter amid thousands of non-urgent operations being postponed. Labour has accused the Conservatives of presiding over a crisis by failing to invest adequately.
But Mr Dunne told the House of Commons yesterday that it was a planned response to seasonal pressure.
He said: “What we have done by setting up this national emergency pressures panel is to anticipate problems to give notice to patients that their procedures are going to be deferred.
"That is a much more humane and sensible way to do this.”, and it provides much more opportunity for hospitals to cope with the pressures that are coming through the door.”
