Health Secretary urged to ‘act now’ over A&E crisis at Hull hospital
WAITING: Ambulances queuing at Hull Royal Infirmary
By Simon Bristow
Health Secretary Thérèse Coffey has been urged to visit Hull and take “immediate action” over a crisis in the city’s Accident and Emergency department that has led to cancelled operations and the redeployment of staff at Hull Royal Infirmary.
The request, from Hull City Council leader Mike Ross, comes after the hospital asked patients not to visit A&E unless for “for anything other than very urgent or serious conditions” due to the “significant strain” the hospital is under.
In particular, the hospital highlighted:
“Very high numbers of people attending the Emergency Department (ED)”;
“Lengthy waits for patients in ED requiring anything other than the most urgent attention”;
“A high number of patients who are ready to leave hospital but are unable to be discharged, often because they are awaiting community care packages or placements”.
An internal email to staff went further, revealing that yesterday there were 106 patients in A&E facing “long waits to be seen”, 29 patients in A&E waiting for a bed, and 190 patients classed as “No Criteria To Reside”, meaning they cannot be discharged into social care or home care.
Coun Ross said last night: “This news is a disaster for Hull with residents, patients and staff alike paying the price of the Government's failure and inaction.
“I’ve written urgently to the Health Secretary this evening demanding she visits Hull to meet with senior officials in the council, the NHS and other stakeholders.
“With an already tough winter ahead this is an incredibly serious and urgent situation. We need action immediately to support our health services.”
‘IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED’: Hull City Council leader, Councillor Mike Ross
In the email, which was obtained by The Sunday Times, Simon Nearny, Director of Workforce at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Dear colleagues, the Trust is under extreme pressure. We currently have 106 patients in our ED with long waits to be seen.
“We are holding 29 patients in ED that have a decision to admit but are waiting for a bed to become available in our assessment areas or wards. We also have ambulances waiting to transfer patients into our ED.
“We have 190 ‘No Criteria to Reside’ patients within the trust and this number continues to rise as we struggle to discharge patients into residential care and home care.”
Mr Nearney also informs colleagues that wards are being asked to take two additional patients from ED or assessment areas, and that “system partners” are being asked to “take out an immediate 50 patients in addition to our normal patient discharges”.
He continues: “The additional patients going to wards places our staff in a difficult position because this is not the care nor experience you wish to give your patients, but given the extreme challenges we face we have to take this action and reduce the growing pressure and risk on our ED.
“…I am sorry to ask but we need staff to work differently and with patients that may not be their usual cohort.”
‘UNDER EXTREME PRESSURE’: Hull Royal Infirmary
Responding on Twitter, Hull West and Hessle MP Emma Hardy said: “This is deeply concerning. I raised concerns with the government on the number of patients with ‘no criteria to reside’ on 5th September and now there are 190 patients waiting to be discharged.
“A bad situation has become even worse. Urgent action is needed.”
In his letter to Ms Coffey, Coun Ross said: “The NHS and our Social Care services in Hull are under incredible pressure and, as Leader of the Council, I am extremely concerned they will soon be stretched beyond breaking point if there isn’t a serious injection of additional financial support from the Government.
“Issues with our hospitals and our Social Care system run deep in Hull and we are in serious need of action.
“Given the crisis facing our NHS, I am inviting you to urgently visit Hull to see first-hand the issues our NHS and social care services are facing, and discuss with senior stakeholders what you and your government plan to do to ensure local residents get the healthcare they deserve. I look forward to your urgent reply.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said: “Unfortunately we can’t comment on the specifics of the hospital as this is a matter for the local NHS Trust in the first instance.
“On the letter, the Health and Social Care Secretary will respond as appropriate in due course.”