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Crowded hospitals ‘put patients at risk’ Crowded hospitals ‘put patients at risk’
(about 1 hour later)
Patients are at risk in overcrowded hospitals as the NHS struggles to cope with the surge of patients seen in recent weeks, a senior doctor has said. Patients are at risk in overcrowded hospitals, doctors are warning, after NHS bosses in England ordered more non-urgent operations to be cancelled.
Prof Suzanne Mason, from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, described it as a "huge tragedy". Planned treatments had already been postponed until mid-January, but NHS England said on Tuesday that would now be extended to the end of the month.
Reports have emerged of patients facing long waits for treatment and being stuck on trolleys in corridors and of ambulances left queuing outside A&E. It comes as hospitals struggle to cope with the surge in patients being seen.
NHS bosses said plans were in place to deal with the pressures in England. The Royal College of Emergency Medicine said care was suffering, but NHS bosses denied there was a crisis.
This includes the cancelling of non-urgent treatments, such as hip and knee replacements, until the end of January. Reports have emerged of patients facing long waits for treatment and being stuck on trolleys in corridors, while ambulances are left queuing outside A&E.
Hospitals have also been given the green light to put patients in mixed sex wards. It has prompted a number of hospital trusts to declare major incidents - sometimes known as black - alerts which can lead them to divert ambulances elsewhere and call in extra staff.
NHS England director for acute care, Prof Keith Willett, said he had not seen such pressures in the NHS since the 1990s, but he denied the service was in crisis. NHS England's Prof Keith Willett admitted the pressures were severe - the worst he had seen since the 1990s - but said plans were in place.
"A crisis is when you haven't got in place mitigations and you haven't got a plan to deal with it," he said. As well as the cancelling of non-urgent treatments, such as knee and hip replacements, hospitals have been given the green light to put patients on mixed sex wards and to bring GPs into A&E to help deal with patients.
"A crisis is when you haven't got in place mitigations and you haven't got a plan to deal with it," Prof Willett said.
"We've gone into this winter in a way we've never prepared before.""We've gone into this winter in a way we've never prepared before."
Doctor warns of 'huge tragedy'Doctor warns of 'huge tragedy'
But Prof Mason said the measures were "too little too late" as hospitals simply had no beds free and these treatments would have had to be cancelled anyway. But Prof Suzanne Mason, of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said the measures were "too little too late" as hospitals simply had no beds free and these treatments would have had to be cancelled anyway.
She added: "Patient safety is being compromised - there's no doubt about that. When patients are in crowded emergency departments and staff cannot actually move between patients and provide the basic level of care that's required, then safety is compromised.She added: "Patient safety is being compromised - there's no doubt about that. When patients are in crowded emergency departments and staff cannot actually move between patients and provide the basic level of care that's required, then safety is compromised.
"Patients who spend many hours on a trolley - and these are often elderly patients - they are the sickest patients in our department."Patients who spend many hours on a trolley - and these are often elderly patients - they are the sickest patients in our department.
"They are much more likely to have a poorer outcome and even die as a result of their experience in the emergency department. And that is a huge tragedy for us in our specialty and that's why we are so desperate to see things improve.""They are much more likely to have a poorer outcome and even die as a result of their experience in the emergency department. And that is a huge tragedy for us in our specialty and that's why we are so desperate to see things improve."
Reports have emerged of serious problems in a number of places:Reports have emerged of serious problems in a number of places:
How has the NHS responded? Doctors and nurses have also speaking about their own experiences.
As well as cancelling non-urgent care in advance - in previous years it has tended to be done at the last minute - a range of other steps has also been taken, including bringing GPs into A&E units to treat less serious cases. Dr Adrian Harrop, an A&E doctor at Scarborough hospital, said he felt he was "fighting a losing battle" as he was not able to do his job properly and care for his patients in the way he wanted.
The NHS response is also being co-ordinated centrally by a new National Emergency Pressures Panel composed of senior doctors and managers. Mark Nevison, a senior nurse in the north east, said he had worked in A&E for 10 years and had "never been so ashamed of the substandard care" now being offered.
It was this panel that ordered the cancellation of some non-urgent cases, although treatments for cancer are being prioritised.
Why has this happened now?Why has this happened now?
The first week of the year is always difficult.The first week of the year is always difficult.
The lack of availability of community services, such as GPs, over the festive period means hospitals tend to see a surge in really sick patients at the turn of the year.The lack of availability of community services, such as GPs, over the festive period means hospitals tend to see a surge in really sick patients at the turn of the year.
Respiratory illnesses also tend to spike after families have been mixing over Christmas bringing frailer older relatives in contact with young family members, increasing the risk of infections being passed on.Respiratory illnesses also tend to spike after families have been mixing over Christmas bringing frailer older relatives in contact with young family members, increasing the risk of infections being passed on.
But it is also true to say that this is part of a pattern.But it is also true to say that this is part of a pattern.
Last January was the worst in a generation and that followed the previous worst the year before.Last January was the worst in a generation and that followed the previous worst the year before.
Commentators have blamed this trend on the squeeze on NHS finances - the health service is in the middle of its toughest cash settlement since it was created.Commentators have blamed this trend on the squeeze on NHS finances - the health service is in the middle of its toughest cash settlement since it was created.
Since 2010 annual rises have been limited to about 1% on average each year, compared to more than 4% it received previously.Since 2010 annual rises have been limited to about 1% on average each year, compared to more than 4% it received previously.
How bad is the situation?How bad is the situation?
It is very hard to tell. The performance stats - covering waits in A&E, the number of ambulances queuing outside A&E and the amount of operations that have been cancelled - will not be known for a few weeks.It is very hard to tell. The performance stats - covering waits in A&E, the number of ambulances queuing outside A&E and the amount of operations that have been cancelled - will not be known for a few weeks.
In the lead-up to Christmas, all the indications were that the NHS was in as bad a position as it was the previous winter.In the lead-up to Christmas, all the indications were that the NHS was in as bad a position as it was the previous winter.
Twice as many patients were waiting for more than four hours in A&E as they should have been, while bed occupancy rates were well above safe levels.Twice as many patients were waiting for more than four hours in A&E as they should have been, while bed occupancy rates were well above safe levels.
But last winter the really bad spell only lasted a couple of weeks before the pressure eased.But last winter the really bad spell only lasted a couple of weeks before the pressure eased.
Therefore, it will only be later in January that it will be known whether the NHS is facing a sustained problem.Therefore, it will only be later in January that it will be known whether the NHS is facing a sustained problem.
Has your operation been cancelled? Please share your experiences with us by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Has your operation been cancelled? Please share your experiences with us by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:
Or comment here:Or comment here: