‘Last resort’ night closure plan for A&E at Princess Royal Hospital
The accident and emergency department at Telford’s Princess Royal Hospital will close overnight for up to two weeks if staff levels drop too low.
Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust’s board agreed the contingency plan at a meeting yesterday.
However, bosses have stressed it will only be implemented as a last resort. If the contingency plan is activated, A&E at PRH would close between the hours of 8pm to 8am for up to two weeks, with night staff from PRH being relocated to Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.
Shrewsbury’s accident and emergency would expand its capacity by utilising the fracture clinic space or the urgent care centre.
The fracture clinic would be relocated to the outpatient department and West Midlands Ambulance Service and neighbouring health trusts would be informed.
Debbie Kadum, chief operating officer, told board members during the meeting that before the contingency plan is put into action staff would liaise with neighbouring health trusts to see if they can offer any help.
She said: “We can’t plan for every eventuality.
“There would be a very early view whether we believe it would go beyond two weeks.
“There would then be a decision about what else we can do.”
Chief executive Simon Wright said the plan would only be put in place if absolutely necessary. He said: “It is our intention to keep our two units open. We have been working incredibly hard to maintain that position.”
The health trust had wanted to agree a different contingency plan but it was found that it could not be delivered within a three-month time frame.
A report to the trust board said: “Under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, NHS organisations that are category 1 responders are required to have business continuity plans in place to ensure departments are able to maintain their function for their critical services for up to two weeks.
“As a trust, we have an obligation to maintain services for our patients, regardless of disruptive events or interruptions, and to ensure we return to business as usual as soon as possible.
“On this basis a plan has been agreed which would support the closure of PRH emergency department overnight (8pm to 8am) for up to two weeks in the event of there being insufficient consultant or middle grade cover.”
If staffing levels improve during the fortnight period, the plan would be taken out of action.
