“Not a funding issue”
The health committee last night received an update on problems at A&E. It can be heard on the video of the meeting after 41 minutes
There was a 6% overall increase in patient presentations over recent weeks
Problems were prompted by an 80% increase in viral conditions with increased risks of pneumonia particularly in elderly people.
The issue was not a funding problem.
The hospital says that it is impossible to provide more beds as there are not enough doctors and nurses to staff additional wards.
The hospital is looking to recruit overseas to fill vacancies.
The 111 service locally is provided by ambulance service in York and is performing well.
Bed blocking (delayed discharges) in not a major factor in the A&E crisis in York. There are vacant spaces in some local elderly person’s homes. There are staffing shortages in this sector as well.
A trades union representative suggested “upskilling” paramedics to deal with more potential patients at the scene on an incident (although this seemed somewhat irrelevant given the advice provided on the causes of the increased demand)
Councillors rightly expressed concern that any increase in the City’s population as a result of Labours “Big City” Local Plan population growth proposals could only exacerbate the pressures on the hospital.
The issue was considered at yesterdays meeting at the request of Nick Love , the City’s prospective Liberal Democrat MP.
A meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board takes place on 21st January. It is also open to the public