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18
Nov 2022
Last Updated: 17/11/2022
Harrogate hospital has 'robust plan' to tackle winter demand, say officials
Harrogate hospital bosses say they expect to face further pressures from seasonal flu, covid and staff absences this coming winter.
Harrogate District Hospital.
Harrogate hospital bosses have given assurances that a 'robust plan' is in place for winter as it faces increased demand.
The hospital says it expects to face further pressures from seasonal flu, covid and staff absences.
It also faces long waiting lists for operations and high demand at accident and emergency.
However, a spokesperson for Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust said the organisation has put a plan in place to cope with demand.
It comes as NHS chiefs wrote to health bosses across the country this week conceding that some hospitals may struggle to cope this winter.
'Robust winter plan'
In Harrogate, the hospital is currently dealing with a 90% bed occupancy rate, high demand at A&E and a long waiting list for operations.
A spokesperson for HDFT said despite some of the winter pressures, a plan was in place to help maintain services for patients.
They said:
“We have faced and dealt with significant challenges over the last few years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and our recovery from it - in particular, reducing our waiting lists and waiting times for treatment.
"We will undoubtedly face further challenges in the months ahead as winter is always a busy time of the year as we deal with a variety of seasonal infections such as flu, in addition to all other regular activity.
“The trust has a robust winter plan in place to ensure we are able to maintain our services so that our patients’ care is not disrupted and all areas are staffed to safe levels and monitored throughout all shifts.
“During the winter period, staff absences at the trust can create pressure for our teams; for instance, fewer nursing and medical staff means that whilst we are still able to treat our patients for their illness or condition and ensure their safety, we are sometimes not able to provide the level of holistic support that we would like.
“Currently, bed occupancy at our hospitals is around 90%. Due to the increased number of planned operations that are being performed we have more patients occupying beds following their surgery.
"However, bed occupancy is also impacted by patients who no longer require hospital care, but are unable to be discharged as they do not have a suitable location where they can continue their recovery, such as a residential care home, or appropriate home care to support them in their own homes.”
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The trust has already sought to introduce a home care service to free up beds and has trialled an emergency department streaming service for less serious injuries and illnesses at A&E.
The hospital also continues to urge people to call 111 for non-urgent illnesses.
It comes as NHS chiefs, regulators and Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer, wrote to hospital bosses this week reassuring them that staff would not face disciplinary action if care standards fell due to “significantly increased national pressure”.
The letter said:
“In such challenging times, when you may need to depart from established procedures to care for people, we understand some could be fearful that they will be referred to your regulator.
“Please be assured that your professional code and principles of practice are there to guide and support your judgments and decision-making in all circumstances.
“This includes taking into account local realities and the need at times to adapt practice at times of significantly increased national pressure.”
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