Concerns over Shropshire hospital A&Es raised by inspectors
Concerns surrounding A&E departments and ‘boarding’ on wards in Shropshire have been raised by health inspectors.
Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH), which runs Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and Telford’s Princess Royal Hospital, was visited by inspectors from the Care Quality Commission last week.
It is expected to take about six months before health bosses see the assessment report. But Simon Wright, chief executive of the trust, said inspectors have already given some feedback.
He said some concerns had been raised around the accident and emergency departments, as well as the frequency of ‘boarding’.
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Boarding is a term used for patients awaiting admission, but still in the emergency department beyond agreed service standards.
The term also accounts for patients on wards who are not in properly configured beds.
Inspectors are due to return to the trust in the next few weeks.
The accident and emergency departments at PRH and RSH have faced considerable workforce challenges and health bosses say they remain in a ‘fragile’ state.
Mr Wright has praised staff for doing all they can to help keep them running. Three consultants have recently been appointed and will be joining the trust in the coming months, although staff shortages remain an issue.
Support from neighbouring health trusts has also been sought.
Contingency plans
Health bosses have also been reviewing contingency plans in case Telford’s A&E has to temporarily close overnight on safety grounds.
Such a closure could see some patients having to travel to an A&E outside the county.
A business continuity plan which looks at the risks is under constant review, according to health chiefs.
Mr Wright said the existence of such a plan has been important to ensure both of the county’s A&Es have been able to remain open.
He said: “If we don’t plan in the full knowledge of what a difficult outcome would be, how do we avoid it?”
But a report to SaTH’s trust board, which meets tomorrow, says a potential temporary overnight closure of A&E at PRH is still a ‘substantial risk’.
Health bosses have said it will only be done if the situation becomes unsafe.
