Young barred from unsafe A&E unit
A&E services at a scandal-hit hospital have been suspended for under-18s because senior clinicians have advised that they are not safe.
University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust said it acted yesterday because of a lack of “professionally trained and experienced staff” at Stafford’s County Hospital.
A&E SERVICES at a scandal-hit hospital have been suspended for under-18s because senior clinicians have advised that they are not safe.
University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust said it acted yesterday because of a lack of “professionally trained and experienced staff ” at Stafford’s County Hospital, which used to be called Stafford Hospital.
The trust said children should not be taken to County Hospital as walk-in patients, adding that those with minor illnesses and injuries should use primary care services such as their GP or community pharmacists.
It added: “Families who believe their children need emergency (A&E) attention should dial 999 for an ambulance. Ambulances will always take children to the most appropriate hospital to treat their condition.”
Dr John Oxtoby, trust acting medical director, said after an external review and discussion with staff, the conclusion was formed that they “cannot mount an entirely safe and adequate service for children’s emergency care in the context of the standards that are required in 2016”.
Asked why the trust had taken the temporary decision, Dr Oxtoby said: “The reason is we’ve been judged against a series of standards that are designed to offer the best possible care for the very sickest of children that might appear in the emergency department, and actually the staffing.
“The particular staff, the skills (they) have in the organisation don’t now match up to the standards which would be expected of a children’s emergency centre today.”
He said the trust was examining options to attract more paediatric medical specialists to enable the resumption of the department.
He added that relying on locums and temporary staff is not what they are seeking to do.
The announcement came on the day an NHS Improvement report highlighted how NHS trusts in England have halved the total deficit over the course of a year with £500m saved through a reduction in agency staff spending, due to controls introduced in October last year.
Liz Rix, chief nurse and acting deputy chief executive, said: “I fully appreciate the impact these temporary changes will have on families in Stafford and the surrounding area, and understand that people will be very concerned about this news.
“However, we cannot and will not continue to deliver services without the confidence that those services are safe.”
Dr Ann Marie Morris, clinical director and emergency medicine consultant, said the decision was taken “in the best interests of children”.
Earlier this month, Grantham and District Hospital announced it was to temporarily close its doors at night because of a shortage of emergency doctors. In April, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was forced to temporarily downgrade Chorley and South Ribble Hospital to an urgent care unit because it did not have enough doctors.
The size of the deficit for NHS trusts in England halved over the course of a year, with more trusts meeting their financial targets, figures show.
With the total deficit falling to £461m for April to June, down from £930m in the same period last year, health experts are nevertheless warning it would be a “mistake” to think financial pressures have eased.
I understand that people will be very concerned Liz Rix, chief nurse and acting deputy chief executive of the trust involved