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Three die at Worcestershire hospital amid NHS winter crisis Three die at Worcestershire hospital amid NHS winter crisis
(35 minutes later)
Extreme pressures facing NHS accident and emergency departments have been thrown into stark relief by the revelation that two patients died after lengthy waits on trolleys in corridors while a third was found hanged on a ward at the same hospital. Extreme pressures facing NHS accident and emergency departments have been thrown into stark relief by the revelation that two patients died after lengthy waits on trolleys in corridors, and a third was found hanged on a ward at the same hospital.
It has been claimed that one woman died of a heart attack after waiting for 35 hours on a trolley at Worcestershire Royal hospital and another man suffered an aneurysm while on a trolley and could not be saved. It is also alleged that a patient was found hanged on a ward. Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS trust confirmed the hospital was under pressure.
It has been claimed that one woman died of a heart attack after waiting for 35 hours on a trolley at the Worcestershire Royal hospital and another man suffered an aneurysm while on a trolley and could not be saved. It is also claimed that a patient was found hanged on a ward. Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust confirmed that the hospital was under pressure. The cases emerged following the publication of an analysis that showed the NHS was on the brink of a winter crisis. A larger than expected increase in patient numbers caused one-third of hospital trusts in England to warn they needed urgent action to cope.
The cases emerged following the publication of an analysis that revealed the NHS was on the brink of a winter crisis. A larger than expected increase in patient numbers caused a third of hospital trusts in England to warn they needed urgent action to cope. The BBC commissioned the Nuffield Trust health thinktank to look at four weeks of hospital data in the run-up to Christmas and found that 50 of the 152 English trusts were at the highest or second-highest levels of pressure.
The BBC commissioned the Nuffield Trust health thinktank to look at four weeks of hospital data in the run-up to Christmas and found that 50 of the 152 English trusts were at the highest or second highest level of pressure During the period, seven trusts had to declare the highest level of emergency 15 times, meaning they were unable to give patients comprehensive care.
During the time period, seven trusts had to declare the highest level of emergency 15 times, meaning they were unable to give patients comprehensive care. Official NHS figures published on Friday also showed that for the period from 28 December to 2 January, two trusts declared the highest level of emergency on one day each and 17 trusts declared the second-highest level – indicating that they were experiencing major pressures and “urgent action” was needed – on at least one occasion.
Official NHS figures published on Friday also showed that for the period from 28 December to 2 January, two trusts declared the highest level of emergency on one day each and 17 trusts declared the second highest level, indicating they were experiencing major pressures and “urgent action” was needed, on at least one occasion. A spokesperson for Worcestershire Royal hospital said: “We can confirm that both of our A&E [departments] experienced an extremely busy Christmas and new year period, and these pressures are continuing. We have robust plans to deal with such demand and partners across the NHS have supported us in ensuring that patient safety and emergency care [are] maintained.
A spokesperson for Worcestershire Royal hospital, where the three patients died, said: “We can confirm that both of our A&E [departments] experienced an extremely busy Christmas and new year period and these pressure are continuing. We have robust plans to deal with such demand and partners across the NHS have supported us in ensuring that patient safety and emergency care maintained.
“These pressures have unfortunately led to patients waiting longer than we would aim for. However, all A&E patients continue to be seen and treated in order of clinical priority. Our focus continues to be on providing safe emergency care.”“These pressures have unfortunately led to patients waiting longer than we would aim for. However, all A&E patients continue to be seen and treated in order of clinical priority. Our focus continues to be on providing safe emergency care.”
It declined to comment on individual cases, citing patient confidentiality. The spokesperson added: “In relation to the specific issues raised we will not comment on individual cases for a number of reasons including protecting the privacy and dignity of our patients and their families.” The hospital declined to comment on individual cases, citing patient confidentiality.
The BBC reported that the three deaths took place between New Year’s Day and Tuesday this week. It said that on Wednesday 30 patients were forced to wait in corridors, while 23 had to so so on Thursday. The BBC reported that the three deaths took place between New Year’s Day and Tuesday 3 January. On Wednesday, 30 patients were forced to wait in corridors, while 23 had to do so on Thursday, it said.
One man told the Guardian his wife had to wait for 54 hours on a hospital trolley at the Worcestershire Royal this week after suffering a stroke. John Freeman said his wife Pauline, 66, suffered a “horrendous time” as she waited on a trolley in an A&E corridor. John Freeman told the Guardian his wife Pauline, 66, had to wait for 54 hours on a hospital trolley in an A&E corridor at Worcestershire Royal hospital this week after suffering a stroke, describing the experience as “horrendous”.
“My wife woke me up at 4.30am and said she couldn’t feel her left side. The ambulance was there in record time and she was on a trolley at the hospital by 5.30am. And there she stayed.” “My wife woke me up at 4.30am and said she couldn’t feel her left side,” he said. “The ambulance was there in record time and she was on a trolley at the hospital by 5.30am. And there she stayed.”
Freeman, who is from Worcester, said his wife was close to a doorway and was woken up every time it opened. At one point she was moved to the plaster room so she could get some peace. She also struggled to get enough to eat. “I went and got her a sandwich and a flask of tea,” he said. Freeman, from Worcester, said his wife was close to a doorway and woken up every time it opened. At one point she was moved to the plaster room so she could get some peace. She also struggled to get enough to eat. “I went and got her a sandwich and a flask of tea,” he said.
“The nurses were brilliant. They did all they could but the place was in meltdown. It was manic. At times the corridors were three trolleys deep. There were at least 20 people on trolleys for much of the time. It was very difficult to manoeuvre around them. A porter told me they were putting some patients in a decontamination room – basically a big shower room – to cram in more beds. They ran out of pillows and blankets.” “The nurses were brilliant. They did all they could, but the place was in meltdown. It was manic. At times the corridors were three trolleys deep. There were at least 20 people on trolleys for much of the time.
Freeman said the patients on trolleys were mainly elderly people and that he had written to the hospital and his MP to complain. “They should kick the executives out of their offices and put in more beds,” he said. Freeman’s wife eventually made it to the stroke ward on Wednesday. “Recovery is going to be a long process,” her husband said. “What she has gone through will not help.” “It was very difficult to manoeuvre around them. A porter told me they were putting some patients in a decontamination room – basically a big shower room – to cram in more beds. They ran out of pillows and blankets.”
The Worcester MP Robin Walker has expressed his concern about the situation and is seeking an urgent meeting with the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt. Freeman said the patients on trolleys were mainly elderly people and he had written to the hospital and his MP to complain. “They should kick the executives out of their offices and put in more beds,” he said. Freeman’s wife eventually made it to the stroke ward on Wednesday. “Recovery is going to be a long process,” he said. “What she has gone through will not help.”
Relatives of patients used BBC Hereford and Worcester’s Facebook page to express concern about the situation, but to praise frontline staff. The Worcester MP, Robin Walker, has expressed his concern about the situation and is seeking an urgent meeting with the health secretary, Jeremy Hunt.
One said: “My dad was in the corridor Tuesday evening through to yesterday afternoon … The staff, from cleaner, porters, nursing staff, ambulance staff and doctors were all amazing. They were clearly overworked and in need of more staff and space.” Relatives of patients used BBC Hereford and Worcester’s Facebook page to voice worries about the situation, but praise frontline staff.
It is not the first time the hospital’s performance has come under scrutiny during periods of pressure. In April 2015, paramedics, including a “medical incident officer” – usually only deployed to major disasters – were used to help treat patients in the hospital’s corridors. One said: “My dad was in the corridor [from] Tuesday evening through to [Wednesday] afternoon … The staff, from cleaner[s], porters, nursing staff, ambulance staff and doctors, were all amazing. They were clearly overworked and in need of more staff and space.”
It is not the first time the hospital’s performance has come under scrutiny during periods of pressure. In April 2015, paramedics, including a “medical incident officer” usually only deployed to major disasters helped treat patients in hospital corridors.
Coincidentally, Worcestershire’s three clinical commissioning groups were launching a 12-week consultation on the future of acute care in the county on Friday.Coincidentally, Worcestershire’s three clinical commissioning groups were launching a 12-week consultation on the future of acute care in the county on Friday.
Nigel Edwards, the chief executive of the Nuffield Trust, said the situation could deteriorate further in the next two weeks when the NHS was usually most stretched. “The real crunch point generally comes in week two or three after the Christmas break … there are early signs that there is a problem,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. Nigel Edwards, the chief executive of the Nuffield Trust, said the situation could deteriorate further in the next two weeks, when the NHS was usually most stretched. “The real crunch point generally comes in week two or three after the Christmas break … There are early signs that there is a problem,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
NHS England insisted hospitals were coping, but Edwards said “there are reasons to be really quite concerned”.NHS England insisted hospitals were coping, but Edwards said “there are reasons to be really quite concerned”.
He pointed out that hospitals were having to cope with a 4% increase in A&E attendance, which is more than expected from population growth. At the same time problems in social care was making it “really tricky” for hospitals to free up beds, he said. He pointed out that hospitals were having to cope with a 4% increase in A&E attendance, which is more than expected from population growth. At the same time, problems in social care were making it “really tricky” for hospitals to free up beds, he said.