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Now East Lancashire's ambulance service is on 'red alert' |
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Written by It's Our NHS Team
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Saturday, 17 January 2009 |
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 The CLOSURE and subsequent transfer to Blackburn of Burnley General Hospital's A&E services in 2007 resulted in a severe overcrowding at the new Royal Blackburn Hospital.
Hospitals go on 'RED ALERT'In August '08', BOSSES of East Lancashire hospitals declared a state of “RED ALERT” two-and-a-half days a week due to a lack of available beds. Ambulance Service goes on 'RED ALERT'
A lack of beds at the Royal Blackburn Hospital resulted in an over-capacity forcing many ambulances to queue outside the hospital. Ambulances, who routinely Queue outside the now only A&E in East Lancs at Blackburn, are failing to meet turnaround times resulting in the Ambulance service declaring a state of 'red alert'. READ MORE...
A North West regional spokesman for public services union Unison, said there had been many occasions recently in which ambulances had been forced to queue outside the hospital.
He said: “There are staffing problems and because there is exceptional demand for emergency treatment there are problems.
“The hospital has already increased the number of emergency beds to deal with the demand but there is now an issue with the capacity the hospital has to accommodate people who require an overnight stay after treatment at A&E.
“We are told that there are funds available but no agency staff to come in to help with the staffing issues. At the moment it is all hands to the pump to deal with the exceptional demand.
“The hospital has been running on red alert for too long and something needs to be done.”
Read more from the Lancashire Telegraph.. |
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Last Updated ( Saturday, 17 January 2009 )
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