Long winter takes its toll on hospital

Emergency hospitals across the country have faced the same problems, leading to longer waits in A&E departments.

At times this month demands on Warwick A&E were at levels normally associated with winter months.

And Warwick has called on staff cover from other centres within the trust, which
also covers Leamington Rehabilitation and Stratford hospitals.

Chief executive Glen Burley said: “Warwick, like other hospitals right now, is experiencing extreme pressure.

“The trust has seen an increased period of novirus and flu outbreaks this year which at times has meant we have closed bays/wards leading to further pressure on our bed capacity.

“We also continue to see an increasing demand for health services from the over-85s and the very nature of these patients means that often they require an in-patient stay.”

Warwick still has its winter contingency ward open and the trust has put more investment in its community services which can assess people in their homes to see if they need hospital admittance.

Peter Brown, aged 66, of Shuckburgh Grove, Lillington, who worked as a health care assistant at the rehabilitation hospital, said he was concerned about pressure on staff, adding: “I was told that last Sunday morning there were 14 people in A&E waiting to be admitted.”