Hospital is on ‘red alert’ after surge in A&E
Work begins on final stage of ‘Blue Zone’ homes plan
MACCLESFIELD Hospital’s A&E department was placed on ‘ red alert’ for SEVEN consecutive days this month after a surge in poorly patients.
East Cheshire NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, declared an emergency OPEL 3 alert on January 3 to 10 according to NHS England.
Also known as ‘red’ alerts, OPEL 3 incidents denote a ‘significant’ deterioration in performance regarding targets to treat 95 per cent of A&E patients within a four-hour period, leading to patient flow being ‘considerably’ affected.
OPEL 3 is one level down from OPEL 4, known as ‘black alerts’, where patient care and safety may be compromised.
The pressure on Macclesfield Hospital was so severe at the start of the month that bosses were forced to open more beds.
Kath Senior, East Cheshire NHS Trust’s Director of Nursing, Performance and Quality, said: “The trust has opened additional beds in recent weeks to cope with the increased demand on the system.
“Our staff have worked extremely hard to accommodate this, working flexibly and adapting work schedules to support safe standards of care throughout this period.
“Our absolute priority is to ensure that people are able to access the care they need in a timely way and in the most appropriate place. Waiting times are unsurprisingly higher during periods of extra pressure as we must treat the most serious cases first.”
Campaign group 38 Degrees claims the pressure on Macclesfield Hospital typifies the ‘scale of the crisis facing the NHS’ and called for more funding from the Government.
Laura Townshend from 38 Degrees said: “When hospitals across England declare alerts and patients on trolleys queue in corridors, there’s no question about it: we need proper funding for the NHS.
“To thousands of people in the North West who’ve seen it first-hand, the solution to an underfunded NHS is all too clear.”
Macclesfield MP David Rutley said he was aware of the situation and had been reassured by hospital chief John Wilbraham.
He said: “Mr Wilbraham set out the action taken to deal with the latest winter pressures and how around 25 extra beds made available at the hospital. It is always a concern when there is pressures on our health services.
“I am assured that the hospital is taking action to respond. The pressures that are being experiences reveal how important it is to make more positive progress in establishing more integrated health and social care in our area and I will continue to work with the hospital, CCG and council in this important work. The government is putting more money into the NHS but the demand is increasing because of the age of population.”
Health chiefs have also re-iterated its call for people to stay away from A&E unless necessary and to use alternative routes such as contacting NHS 111, pharmacies or GPs. WORK has started to build 34 new homes on parts of old hospital site – with the promise of a new play area.
Developer Elan Homes has begun clearance and demolition works on the final part of the ‘Blue Zone’ at Macclesfield Hospital to prepare for new homes.
The Blue Zone is an area of Macclesfield Hospital which has been sold off to developers to pay off debts.
Cheshire-based homebuilder Elan Homes bought a chunk of land known as Hope Park, with planning consent for 34 homes. It will offer 29 houses in a choice of three and four-bedroom designs, with the remaining five homes providing affordable housing.
Elan is already building a database of potential buyers. It marks the final phase of development at the former hospital site.
As part of the deal for planning permission, Elan must give £51,000 to the council for a new play area.
Andrew Morgan, land director for Elan Homes, said: “We were keen to be part of the redevelopment of the former hospital site, helping to bring the land back into good use by providing new homes.
“A lot of regeneration work has already taken place and we’ll be adding to that by investing in the area for the benefit of the wider community.
“For example, we will pay around £51,000 towards an off-site children’s play area and gift more than £27,000 to recreation and outdoor sports provision.”
A contribution towards highways works has already been made by the developer.
The first of Elan’s homes at Hope Park Mews are scheduled to be released for sale in the spring, but the developer is already looking for more land to build on in the area.
Mr Morgan said: “One of the things that appealed to us about this site is that it’s within walking distance of Macclesfield town centre. With local facilities including a nursery and supermarket, it’s perfect for young families.
“Homeowners will be able to walk through the public open space forming part of the development and cross the road to nearby West Park.”
The redevelopment of the Blue Zone was first mooted nearly a decade ago when East Cheshire NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, needed to sell off the site to pay off its debts in a bid to achieve Foundation Status.
In an earlier phase, Keyworker Homes converted the historic Henbury House and Ingersley Building into apartments for doctors and nurses and 10,000sqft of offices.