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NHS Trust Apologizes for Record 12-Hour Patient Bed Delays
12 Feb
Summary
- Blackpool hospital patients faced 12-hour waits for ward beds.
- This situation was identified as the worst nationally.
- The trust cited winter demand and staffing gaps for the delays.
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has issued an apology following a report highlighting that some newly admitted patients experienced 12-hour waits to secure a hospital bed. This delay has been identified as the most significant nationally, with BBC analysis revealing 1.75 million patients nationwide faced similar waits last year.
The trust has been grappling with severe pressure, largely attributed to increased demand during the winter months and critical staffing gaps. Chief executive Maggie Oldham stated that patients receive ongoing assessment and support during their wait for a bed.
Earlier in January, the hospital declared a critical incident due to extreme demand overwhelming services. This situation, often triggered by factors like flu surges or winter pressures, necessitates the activation of contingency plans to ensure safe patient care.
Despite these challenges, the trust is actively implementing measures to address the issues. Efforts include increasing the capacity of its discharge lounge to facilitate patient departures more comfortably and strengthening the workforce in key areas to alleviate pressure.
