This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
Hospitals raise alert over increasing patient numbers
The BBC has reported that a third of hospital trusts in England have issued alerts warning that urgent action was needed to cope with the pressure of patient numbers last month.
The Nuffield Trust said NHS England figures showed 50 hospital trusts had declared they were experiencing major pressures, with seven of the 50 trusts declaring they were unable to give patients comprehensive care.
In an BBC Radio 4, Dr Taj Hassan, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, warned: ”We entered this winter in the worst state of affairs possible, staff are working at the very limit of their capabilities."
The news comes as a new system of recording the pressure on trusts is in place this winter, known as Operational Pressures Escalation Levels.
Joe Harrison, chief executive of the Milton Keynes Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, explained: "We have significant numbers of patients needing hospital beds, putting pressure on the system," he told Today.
"Patients coming through our doors are clinically sicker. They have got more things that need looking after and tend to stay longer in hospital."
A spokesman for NHS England said: "NHS tried-and-tested plans are currently managing the ongoing pressures of this winter.
"Going into the new year, the public can play their part by avoiding going to A&E unless it is an emergency and using local pharmacies and NHS 111 for medical advice."
Latest News
16/02/2024 - 12:56
Hammersmith and Fulham Council has created a new alliance intended to clean dirty air and improve residents' health.
16/02/2024 - 10:44
Two million more GP appointments a month are being delivered for patients compared to the same month before the pandemic as part of the NHS primary care access recovery plan according to new NHS data.
15/02/2024 - 10:26
The Welsh Government has provided innovation funding of £380,000 to support two projects utilising technology in domiciliary care.
15/02/2024 - 10:13
The new Scottish health secretary has met with frontline staff at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
14/02/2024 - 10:27
The North East London NHS Foundation Trust (NELFT) has appointed three new Executive Directors to the Trust Board.
Product Features
UK Building Regulations highlight toxic gas and smoke from layers of paint built up over multiple redecorations as a major cause of permanent ill health or death in a building fire.
Their concern rose with discovery the flame retardant paints most widely used paint along escape routes have been ones which to this day counter-productively use emission of heavy toxic gas to smother flames which rapidly spread along walls if layers of paint delaminate in a fire.
Supplier Profiles
Northwich’s Victoria Infirmary (VIN) Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) has enabled more patients
Adveco, the commercial hot water specialist, announces the launch of live metering of domestic ho
Latest Features
Sarah Greenslade, public affairs and communications officer at the British Parking Association looks at some of the problems and innovations in healthcare parking
It’s easy to assume that the comms team is there to handle press enquiries and the occasional social media storm – but the reality is that strategic communications can make a measurable impact across the entire organisation, from operational to financial, when done properly
