This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-35344514
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| A&E 'on the edge and waits too long', says leading doctor | A&E 'on the edge and waits too long', says leading doctor |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Hospital emergency departments in Wales are "on the edge" with staff shortages and waiting times too long, a leading A&E doctor has warned. | Hospital emergency departments in Wales are "on the edge" with staff shortages and waiting times too long, a leading A&E doctor has warned. |
| Dr Robin Roop, head of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine in Wales (RCEM), said some patients were waiting more than 24 hours in A&E. | Dr Robin Roop, head of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine in Wales (RCEM), said some patients were waiting more than 24 hours in A&E. |
| He warned no A&E department in Wales had enough consultants to meet minimum RCEM staffing levels. | |
| The Welsh government said the pressures were not unique to Wales. | The Welsh government said the pressures were not unique to Wales. |
| Speaking as the latest A&E statistics are due to be published, Dr Roop said there was also a shortage of senior doctors and emergency unit nurses. | Speaking as the latest A&E statistics are due to be published, Dr Roop said there was also a shortage of senior doctors and emergency unit nurses. |
| The gaps, which he claims are "notoriously difficult to fill", added to the pressures, mean frontline staff are "working excessively hard", "morale is going down" and more people are quitting emergency medicine. | The gaps, which he claims are "notoriously difficult to fill", added to the pressures, mean frontline staff are "working excessively hard", "morale is going down" and more people are quitting emergency medicine. |
| "In Wales staff turnover in emergency medicine is getting worse. We have not been able to recruit new consultants at the same level here as in other countries," he said. | "In Wales staff turnover in emergency medicine is getting worse. We have not been able to recruit new consultants at the same level here as in other countries," he said. |
| Dr Roop, who is a consultant in Wrexham, said A&E waits because wards were full were also a "continuous" problem, despite efforts by health boards to open additional hospital beds and postpone non-urgent surgery at times of high demand. | Dr Roop, who is a consultant in Wrexham, said A&E waits because wards were full were also a "continuous" problem, despite efforts by health boards to open additional hospital beds and postpone non-urgent surgery at times of high demand. |
| "The health boards have learnt from previous years about winter pressures and what needs to be done - things like expanding bed capacity and changing elective operations - they've worked to a small degree," he said. | "The health boards have learnt from previous years about winter pressures and what needs to be done - things like expanding bed capacity and changing elective operations - they've worked to a small degree," he said. |
| "But we still see a reduction in the number of patients being able to be passed on (from emergency units) in a timely fashion. And we still see 'exit-blocks'. | "But we still see a reduction in the number of patients being able to be passed on (from emergency units) in a timely fashion. And we still see 'exit-blocks'. |
| "It means staff aren't doing what they've been trained to do in emergency medicine. They are now doing the additional things of looking after for longer because of the delays. | "It means staff aren't doing what they've been trained to do in emergency medicine. They are now doing the additional things of looking after for longer because of the delays. |
| "There are patients waiting over four hours a lot of the time. So those patients have to be treated as a ward-based type of patient. The statistics show some patients spend over 12 hours in the department and some over 24 hours." | "There are patients waiting over four hours a lot of the time. So those patients have to be treated as a ward-based type of patient. The statistics show some patients spend over 12 hours in the department and some over 24 hours." |
| FACTFILE - A&E UNITS IN WALES: | FACTFILE - A&E UNITS IN WALES: |
| Dr Roop also warned A&E pressures could get worse in coming weeks, partly due to increasing flu cases, which have emerged later than last year. | Dr Roop also warned A&E pressures could get worse in coming weeks, partly due to increasing flu cases, which have emerged later than last year. |
| "Absolutely every emergency department (in Wales) is on the edge - we are ever so close to patients becoming really poorly in our departments and that could have a knock-on effect and having disastrous outcomes," he added. | "Absolutely every emergency department (in Wales) is on the edge - we are ever so close to patients becoming really poorly in our departments and that could have a knock-on effect and having disastrous outcomes," he added. |
| A Welsh government spokesman said: "There was a 23% reduction in the number of people who spent more than 12 hours in emergency departments in December compared to November but we know there is more work to do. | A Welsh government spokesman said: "There was a 23% reduction in the number of people who spent more than 12 hours in emergency departments in December compared to November but we know there is more work to do. |
| "We expect all health boards to ensure they have the right mix of staff to ensure services are safe, sustainable, and to ensure patient experience and outcomes are optimised." | "We expect all health boards to ensure they have the right mix of staff to ensure services are safe, sustainable, and to ensure patient experience and outcomes are optimised." |