Makeshift beds used amid ‘relentless’ hospital pressures

AS local medical staff struggle to process large volumes of patients, some people have found themselves being treated in ‘parts of the hospital, never intended for nursing patients’.

At a meeting of the Western Health Trust Board last week, chair Dr Tom Frawley described the pressure upon services as ‘exceptional and relentless’.

Referencing the inadequate health funding currently available, Dr Frawley said, “Things will have to be prioritised… (which will) present difficulties for patients and the wider public.”

Mr Frawley emphasised the need for the Western Trust to ensure it is allocated its fair share of consultants and junior doctors, as well as highlighting the need to review its reliance on ‘unfunded locums’.

Afterwards, he turned to the telling topic of ‘escalation beds’.

“Over the past month, patients in our emergency departments have had to endure unacceptable waits before being admitted to a bed.

“Like all wards, across every trust, we have had to resort to the use escalation beds,” he said.

South West Acute Hospital currently operates 20 escalation beds, while Altnagelvin has 28 in use.

“Given the exceptional and relentless pressures… we are using areas of the hospital that were never intended for nursing patients. However, I would ask, what is the alternative?”

‘LEAST WORST OPTION’

Addressing the not ideal, but pragmatic, approach being taken, Mr Frawley quoted a colleague, “These arrangements are the least worst option available.”

He then moved to assure the public that patients treated in escalation beds, despite not enjoying the same degree of privacy afforded to those given standard ward admission, nevertheless receive the same quality of care and treatment.

In a statement to the Tyrone Herald, a spokesperson for the Western Trust said, “We are acutely aware of the continuing challenges and extreme pressures not just in our emergency departments but across both of our acute hospital sites with full escalation of beds on all wards and departments. Pressures are not unique to the Western Trust area and are being experienced across NI.

“Escalation beds/rooms are areas which the Trust has formally safety assessed and found to be suitable for use by a patient. All patients are formally assessed by the medical and nursing staff before they are put in these additional areas.

“The alternative to using escalation spaces is for a patient to remain in a busy Emergency Department.

“We want to reassure the public that we are doing the best that we can and wish to thank our staff for the excellent care they provide to our patients under extreme pressures.”