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‘Vulnerable’ NHS blamed for rise in winter waiting times ‘Vulnerable’ NHS blamed for rise in winter waiting times
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A “worrying increase” in the number of patients waiting on trolleys for up to 12 hours before they are admitted to hospital is being blamed by NHS bosses on the “vulnerable” nature of the health service in winter, according to a leaked letter.A “worrying increase” in the number of patients waiting on trolleys for up to 12 hours before they are admitted to hospital is being blamed by NHS bosses on the “vulnerable” nature of the health service in winter, according to a leaked letter.
As latest figures show a doubling in the number of patients forced to wait up to 12 hours for a bed on a ward, the head of the NHS in England has warned that any patient forced to wait that long should be classed as a “serious incident”.As latest figures show a doubling in the number of patients forced to wait up to 12 hours for a bed on a ward, the head of the NHS in England has warned that any patient forced to wait that long should be classed as a “serious incident”.
“There should be a zero tolerance of over 12-hour waits for admission and such a wait should be classed as a serious incident, and we would expect a full root-cause analysis to take place,” Prof Sir Bruce says in the letter. It is signed jointly by Dr Kathy McLean, medical director of the NHS Trust Development Authority, and Professor Hugo Mascie-Taylor, the medical director of Monitor.“There should be a zero tolerance of over 12-hour waits for admission and such a wait should be classed as a serious incident, and we would expect a full root-cause analysis to take place,” Prof Sir Bruce says in the letter. It is signed jointly by Dr Kathy McLean, medical director of the NHS Trust Development Authority, and Professor Hugo Mascie-Taylor, the medical director of Monitor.
The letter was issued on Monday as figures from NHS England showed a doubling – to record levels – of the number of patients who were forced in the last month to wait up to 12 hours for a bed on a ward. The figures showed that in the last four weeks, 29,151 patients waited up to 12 hours – a doubling of the 13,899 patients over the same period last year.The letter was issued on Monday as figures from NHS England showed a doubling – to record levels – of the number of patients who were forced in the last month to wait up to 12 hours for a bed on a ward. The figures showed that in the last four weeks, 29,151 patients waited up to 12 hours – a doubling of the 13,899 patients over the same period last year.
Labour added to the pressure on the government by saying that a lack of nursing home places or social care provision at home for elderly people is leading to a rise in hospital “bed blocking”. The warning from the NHS leaders in the letter, dated Monday, was issued during one of the most difficult weeks since 2010 for the government, which is coping with what is growing into a politically dangerous pre-election winter health crisis.Labour added to the pressure on the government by saying that a lack of nursing home places or social care provision at home for elderly people is leading to a rise in hospital “bed blocking”. The warning from the NHS leaders in the letter, dated Monday, was issued during one of the most difficult weeks since 2010 for the government, which is coping with what is growing into a politically dangerous pre-election winter health crisis.
A leaked letter over the weekend showed that ambulance chief executives are proposing to increase from eight to 19 minutes the response times for some “Red 2” patients – serious but not immediately life-threatening conditions.A leaked letter over the weekend showed that ambulance chief executives are proposing to increase from eight to 19 minutes the response times for some “Red 2” patients – serious but not immediately life-threatening conditions.
The Daily Mail highlighted the pressures on GP services when it published a photograph on its front page on Tuesday of patients queuing in the dark at 7.11am to secure a same-day doctor’s appointment in Sunbury in Surrey.The Daily Mail highlighted the pressures on GP services when it published a photograph on its front page on Tuesday of patients queuing in the dark at 7.11am to secure a same-day doctor’s appointment in Sunbury in Surrey.
In a sign of the growing pressures across the health service, as it copes with an ageing population and a budget that is rising only in line with inflation, the Daily Telegraph on Wednesday reported that more than 300 consultants have warned in an open letter that new funding arrangements will put patients’ lives at risk. The consultants warned that there would be “inevitably avoidable deaths” if NHS England presses ahead with a proposal to reimburse hospitals for just half the costs of specialist care for every patient above an expected limit.In a sign of the growing pressures across the health service, as it copes with an ageing population and a budget that is rising only in line with inflation, the Daily Telegraph on Wednesday reported that more than 300 consultants have warned in an open letter that new funding arrangements will put patients’ lives at risk. The consultants warned that there would be “inevitably avoidable deaths” if NHS England presses ahead with a proposal to reimburse hospitals for just half the costs of specialist care for every patient above an expected limit.
As Labour warned that the NHS is facing a major crisis, the pressures on emergency services were highlighted by the leaked letter showing a dramatic increase in the number of patients forced to wait more than four hours before they are admitted to hospital.As Labour warned that the NHS is facing a major crisis, the pressures on emergency services were highlighted by the leaked letter showing a dramatic increase in the number of patients forced to wait more than four hours before they are admitted to hospital.
In the letter, leaked to the Guardian and the Daily Mail, Bruce Keogh, Kathy McLean and Hugo Mascie-Taylor write: “Given the recent worrying increase in the numbers of patients waiting for over four hours from decision to admit to admission, we wanted to take this opportunity to write to reiterate the importance of ensuring that a high quality of care is maintained for these patients during this vulnerable time. In particular, we want to ensure adequate attention is focussed on providing the continued clinical monitoring and care of patients delayed in their admission by staff experienced in assessing such patients.In the letter, leaked to the Guardian and the Daily Mail, Bruce Keogh, Kathy McLean and Hugo Mascie-Taylor write: “Given the recent worrying increase in the numbers of patients waiting for over four hours from decision to admit to admission, we wanted to take this opportunity to write to reiterate the importance of ensuring that a high quality of care is maintained for these patients during this vulnerable time. In particular, we want to ensure adequate attention is focussed on providing the continued clinical monitoring and care of patients delayed in their admission by staff experienced in assessing such patients.
“While we understand that in some cases it is necessary for patients to wait for longer than four hours for admission, in particular during times of increased pressure on the system, it is concerning for all of us to see such a steep increase recently in the number of patients waiting between four and 12 hours and the risk to patients resulting from such long waits. There should be a zero tolerance of over 12-hour waits for admission and such a wait should be classed as a serious incident, and we would expect a full root-cause analysis to take place.“While we understand that in some cases it is necessary for patients to wait for longer than four hours for admission, in particular during times of increased pressure on the system, it is concerning for all of us to see such a steep increase recently in the number of patients waiting between four and 12 hours and the risk to patients resulting from such long waits. There should be a zero tolerance of over 12-hour waits for admission and such a wait should be classed as a serious incident, and we would expect a full root-cause analysis to take place.
“We do recognise the enormous pressure hospitals and staff are under, and would like to express our gratitude. At such times in the NHS we do pride ourselves in protecting patient safety and experience. Thank you for your help.”“We do recognise the enormous pressure hospitals and staff are under, and would like to express our gratitude. At such times in the NHS we do pride ourselves in protecting patient safety and experience. Thank you for your help.”
Labour said the government was, in part at least, to blame for the longer hospital waits in light of the increased cases of “bed blocking”, which costs the NHS £264 a day. This can be caused by elderly patients unable to secure social care at home or in a nursing home. Just under 6,000 “lost hospital bed days” were caused by problems arranging social care. The most frequent reason in these cases was “awaiting care package in own home”. Labour said the government was, in part at least, to blame for the longer hospital waits in light of the increased cases of “bed blocking”, which costs the NHS £264 a day for every patient. This can be caused by elderly patients unable to secure social care at home or in a nursing home. Just under 6,000 “lost hospital bed days” were caused by problems arranging social care. The most frequent reason in these cases was “awaiting care package in own home”.
Labour said that the latest figures on “bed blocking”, known as delayed transfers of care, released last Friday, show there were 94,046 acute delayed days in November. In the year to November 2014 there were 997,226 acute delayed days.Labour said that the latest figures on “bed blocking”, known as delayed transfers of care, released last Friday, show there were 94,046 acute delayed days in November. In the year to November 2014 there were 997,226 acute delayed days.
Andy Burnham, the shadow health secretary, said: “This Christmas there are record numbers of elderly people trapped in hospital who would rather be at home with their families. It is a sad reflection on a system that is now creaking at the seams and in danger of being overwhelmed. The root cause of this is the government’s severe cuts to social care, which has seen 300,000 over-65s lose support in the home.Andy Burnham, the shadow health secretary, said: “This Christmas there are record numbers of elderly people trapped in hospital who would rather be at home with their families. It is a sad reflection on a system that is now creaking at the seams and in danger of being overwhelmed. The root cause of this is the government’s severe cuts to social care, which has seen 300,000 over-65s lose support in the home.
“I warned the government that if they allowed social care to collapse it will in the end drag down the NHS. They refused to listen and now must take responsibility for the crisis in older people’s care on this government’s watch.”“I warned the government that if they allowed social care to collapse it will in the end drag down the NHS. They refused to listen and now must take responsibility for the crisis in older people’s care on this government’s watch.”