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| Managing the cold weather |
| Written by Communications Lead |
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The current spell of cold weather has resulted in the Accident Centre at Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals NHS Trust seeing a higher than usual volume of elderly patients with respiratory problems.
Accident and Emergency departments across the whole of Surrey, as in most of the UK, are presently experiencing unprecedented demands on their services. Ashford and St. Peter’s - like all of its neighbouring Trusts - have had to open extra bed capacity in recent weeks to cope with this increased demand for medical beds and this escalation of capacity has meant increased pressure on staff and staffing levels.
Said Business Centre Manager for Emergency Services Jean Haire: “On New Year’s Eve we treated a number of patients for alcohol-related incidents. On New Year’s Day, and over the weekend, we have had a high volume of patients with respiratory problems such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chest infections, together with a lot of acutely ill medical patients.
“Once again it has been extremely busy and stressful and although we have been short staffed the care provided to patients and their relatives by our teams and the ambulance service has been exceptional. They have supported each other, and continue to do so.
“The nursing and medical staff within our emergency services area have been running on low numbers as flu had affected staff, and they continue to work very hard. They should be proud that they have managed to provide a safe, efficient and caring service.”
To free-up spaces for new patients on the wards an extra 20 beds have been opened in the former medical assessment unit at St. Peter’s for those patients awaiting discharge, and at Ashford Hospital 11 extra beds were opened on Monday (05-01-09) in the day surgery unit.
A further 16 beds look set to be opened this month (January) on Fielding Ward at Ashford Hospital for patients who have progressed following surgery and now need specialist rehabilitation before being discharged. This will free-up bed space on the other orthopaedic wards.
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| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 07 January 2009 17:04 ) |
