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Hospitals run out of beds as NHS strained by norovirus Hospitals run out of beds as NHS strained by norovirus
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Hospitals have run out of beds, had to temporarily close their A&E unit and been battling outbreaks of norovirus this month, even though winter has not yet brought its usual major problems for the NHS, such as flu and bad weather.Hospitals have run out of beds, had to temporarily close their A&E unit and been battling outbreaks of norovirus this month, even though winter has not yet brought its usual major problems for the NHS, such as flu and bad weather.
Official figures released on Friday by NHS England, for hospital performance in the first week of December, show many are already struggling to cope with the extra pressures, even before the heaviest strain of norovirus, that usually arrives in January. Official figures released on Friday by NHS England, for hospital performance in the first week of December, show many are already struggling to cope with the extra pressures, even before the heaviest strain of norovirus, which usually arrives in January.
NHS England’s first set of situation reports data, that it will release every Friday until the spring, which cover the previous week, shows that 12 hospital trusts did not have a single bed available throughout 4-6 December, and another 30 had fewer than 10 beds free for patients. NHS England’s first set of situation reports data covering the previous week, which it will release every Friday until the spring, shows that 12 hospital trusts did not have a single bed available from 4-6 December, and another 30 had fewer than 10 beds free for patients.
That so many hospitals have so few beds available at this early stage of the winter will increase the widespread concern in the NHS that hospitals will not be able to cope with the influx of very sick patients that usually happens in January.That so many hospitals have so few beds available at this early stage of the winter will increase the widespread concern in the NHS that hospitals will not be able to cope with the influx of very sick patients that usually happens in January.
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The figures, for the week to 6 December also show that hospitals had to shut their emergency department and send patients to a nearby alternative hospital because their staff could not deal safely with any more patients on 23 occasions last week, including 18 last Friday, Saturday and Sunday alone.The figures, for the week to 6 December also show that hospitals had to shut their emergency department and send patients to a nearby alternative hospital because their staff could not deal safely with any more patients on 23 occasions last week, including 18 last Friday, Saturday and Sunday alone.
By far the worst affected was County Durham and Darlington NHS foundation trust, which had to shut its A&E 11 different times last weekend. However, King’s College hospital, a major teaching hospital and centre of excellence in south London, had to shut its A&E three times last weekend and also on Tuesday 1 December. By far the worst affected was County Durham and Darlington NHS foundation trust, which had to shut its A&E 11 times last weekend. However, King’s College hospital, a major teaching hospital and centre of excellence in south London, had to shut its A&E three times last weekend and also on Tuesday 1 December.
Gateshead Health NHS foundation trust also had to order a temporary closure twice last weekend while two other south London trusts -- St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust and Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust -- both had to do that on one occasion last weekend. Gateshead Health NHS foundation trust also had to order a temporary closure twice last weekend while two other south London trusts – St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust and Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust – both had to do that on one occasion last weekend.
Norovirus – the winter diarrhoea and vomiting bug – is already causing problems. It resulted in the loss of 1,545 beds during the course of last week. Easily the trust worst affected was the Royal United hospital Bath NHS foundation trust, It had 169 beds closed on Monday last week as a result, 186 on Tuesday, 141 on Wednesday, 140 on Thursday and then 27 over the course of last weekend – a total of 663 beds, or 43% of the 1,545 across England as a whole. Norovirus – the winter diarrhoea and vomiting bug – is already causing problems. It resulted in the loss of 1,545 beds during the course of last week. The trust worst affected was the Royal United hospital Bath NHS foundation trust, which had 169 beds closed on Monday last week as a result, 186 on Tuesday, 141 on Wednesday, 140 on Thursday and 27 over the weekend – a total of 663 beds, or 43% of the 1,545 across England as a whole.
Other trusts badly affected by the highly contagious bug, which can cause several wards at a time to be closed as patients are isolated to avoid further spread, included Hull and East Yorkshire hospitals NHS trust, which lost 134 beds over the week due to norovirus; Northumbria Healthcare NHS foundation trust (110) and Bolton NHS foundation trust (101).Other trusts badly affected by the highly contagious bug, which can cause several wards at a time to be closed as patients are isolated to avoid further spread, included Hull and East Yorkshire hospitals NHS trust, which lost 134 beds over the week due to norovirus; Northumbria Healthcare NHS foundation trust (110) and Bolton NHS foundation trust (101).
Andrew Gwynne MP, the shadow public health minister. responding to the first weekly publication of NHS England’s winter situation reports, said: “These figures show an NHS under deep pressure with hospitals facing unprecedented levels of demand. Twelve hospital trusts in England did not have a single spare bed available last weekend, and many more were dangerously full. Andrew Gwynne MP, the shadow public health minister, responding to the first weekly publication of NHS England’s winter situation reports, said: “These figures show an NHS under deep pressure with hospitals facing unprecedented levels of demand. Twelve hospital trusts in England did not have a single spare bed available last weekend, and many more were dangerously full.
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“The uncomfortable truth for ministers is that this is a crisis of their own making. Social care has been cut back, and too many older people are being forced to turn to A&E as they aren’t being supported in their homes. To make matters worse the NHS has been given less than half the amount of money this year to deal with winter pressures than it had last year. Ministers need to stop burying their heads in the sand and a get a grip on the crisis facing our hospitals this winter.” “The uncomfortable truth for ministers is that this is a crisis of their own making. Social care has been cut back, and too many older people are being forced to turn to A&E as they aren’t being supported in their homes. To make matters worse, the NHS has been given less than half the amount of money this year to deal with winter pressures than it had last year. Ministers need to stop burying their heads in the sand and a get a grip on the crisis facing our hospitals this winter.”
However, today’s figures were far less detailed than usual about how the hospitals are coping because NHS England – reportedly under pressure from the Department of Health – had decided to not include a number of key figures in its weekly winter updates. They include statistics for the number of ambulances queuing outside A&E units, patients who had to wait more than four hours to be treated in casualty, operations cancelled because the hospital was under pressure and patients who were stuck in wards despite being fit to be discharged. However, Friday’s figures were far less detailed than usual about how the hospitals are coping because NHS England – reportedly under pressure from the Department of Health – had decided to not include a number of key figures in its weekly winter updates. They include statistics for the number of ambulances queuing outside A&E units, patients who had to wait more than four hours to be treated in casualty, operations cancelled because the hospital was under pressure and patients who were stuck in wards despite being fit to be discharged.
That decision has prompted claims of a deliberate coverup to try to minimise the political embarrassment caused by the publication of often highly damaging winter data.That decision has prompted claims of a deliberate coverup to try to minimise the political embarrassment caused by the publication of often highly damaging winter data.
Dr Cliff Mann, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, which represents A&E doctors, has warned that NHS will “fly blind” this winter as a result of not having enough detailed information. “It seems as though somebody has decided to glaze over the windscreen”, he said last week. Dr Cliff Mann, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, which represents A&E doctors, has warned the NHS will “fly blind” this winter as a result of not having enough detailed information. “It seems as though somebody has decided to glaze over the windscreen”, he said last week.
The figures also appear to have been made as deliberately difficult to interpret as possible. NHS England did not include either its usual explanatory note about the figures, contained in a series of highly-detailed spreadsheets, or any official response from one of its senior figures. The figures also appear to have been made as deliberately difficult to interpret as possible. NHS England did not include either its usual explanatory note about the figures, contained in a series of highly detailed spreadsheets, or any official response from one of its senior figures.
In addition, 28 trusts declared that they were facing “operational problems” during last week, including nine that did so last weekend – another sign that they are very busy and under pressure. Last January about 20 trusts were forced to declare a major incident, or black alert, because they could not cope with the number of patients needing care. In addition, 28 trusts declared they were facing “operational problems” last week, including nine last weekend – another sign they are very busy and under pressure. Last January, about 20 trusts were forced to declare a major incident, or black alert, because they could not cope with the number of patients needing care.