Hospital feels the strain as illnesses strike
In recent weeks there has been a 50% rise in the number of patients needing to be admitted overnight at the Accident and Emergency department at Derbyshire Royal Infirmary.
This has prompted Derby Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, to ask people to think twice before visiting A&E in a bid to relieve the strain on nurses.
More than 90 of the department’s 250 patients a day have needed a bed, compared to about 60 on average.
And while health bosses say Derbyshire Royal Infirmary has enough beds to cope, staff are under increased pressure.
Em Wilkinson-Brice, director of nursing at Derby Hospitals NHS Trust said staff needed time to help those affected by the winter weather.
She said: “We ask people to help us by only using A&E if they require emergency treatment.
“They should consider other services, such as walk-in centres, minor injury units and GPs, before automatically turning up at A&E.
“This helps us to treat the most poorly patients who need our help most.”
The majority of patients responsible for the rise in admissions are older people with breathing difficulties and cardiac problems who need emergency care.
Once they have been given the emergency care they need, many are transferred to a community hospital of their choice.
Mrs Wilkinson-Brice said that these smaller hospitals were also feeling the strain and it was not always possible to transfer patients to their chosen one. She said: “We try our very best to place patients in the hospital they choose, closest to their family and their own home, as we realise this is most convenient.
“However, on occasions, empty beds in the community are not always in patients’ preferred location.
“It would be really helpful if people would be flexible, especially during this period when demand for beds is greater.
“Where possible we would ask that patients and their relatives take up the offer of any community hospital bed.”
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