Alex has held talks with local NHS bosses and the South West Ambulance Trust to urge them to resolve the problems with ambulances ‘stacking up’ outside CGH and GRH.
The single biggest cause for congestion is the number of patients in CGH and GRH who are deemed ‘fit for discharge’ but who remain in hospital. Although this problem exists nationwide, around 30% of patients in Gloucestershire hospitals are fit for discharge, compared with a national average of approximately 14%.
A plan has been published to improve the situation, including:
- Stationing frailty staff at the front door of emergency departments to prevent unnecessary admissions
- Social care staff being hired by the CCG and deployed on the wards to speed up care assessments
- ‘Same Day Emergency Care’ system, to encourage direct booking into assessment and diagnostic services to avoid ED waits
Trust bosses expect this to reduce the current ‘fit for discharge’ figure from 230 patients to 150 over the next 9-12 months.
Alex said: "As I know from a visit to A&E with one of my own children recently, ambulances are experiencing delays in handing over patients. This clear plan is welcome, but it's implementation that matters. I and my Gloucestershire colleagues will be watching very closely."