Hospital trust reveals beds plan to ease crisis

LONG WAITS IN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT ARE TARGETED

HOSPITAL bosses say more beds are being made available to ease winter pressure on Derriford’s emergency department.

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust (UHP) says that by creating additional beds, patients will be able to move more easily through the hospital from the Emergency Department, in turn relieving long waits.

Last week we reported that patients being taken to Derriford hospital by ambulance faced longer delays to be handed over to A&E than anywhere else in the country.

But the trust says more beds have recently been made available to ease the problem.

Rachel O’Connor, Director of Integrated Care, Partnerships and Strategy at UHP, said: “As part of our winter plans, we are working very hard to get patients to the right place at the right time.

“More beds and more capacity to support people going home with care support creates additional flow through the hospital, relieving pressure on the Emergency Department.