Beds to go at Stafford Hospital

Sixty of around 200 beds from across the hospital will no longer be in use in a move which could potentially have an adverse effect on surrounding hospitals.

It is believed the issue is down to staffing problems at Stafford and comes just days after a health boss claimed that no staff wanted to work there.

New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton and Manor Hospital in Walsall will see extra patients arrive on their doorsteps as a result.

Ambulances will also be redirected to those two hospitals throughout the day, as well as to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire NHS (UHNS).

Patients in Cannock and surrounding areas such as Penkridge are now even more likely to have to attend hospitals in Wolverhampton or Walsall when they need emergency care.

The beds will be taken from all areas of the hospital.

It is likely the pattern of emergency calls will be similar to how it is overnight, when Stafford Hospital A&E is closed.

Maggie Oldham, chief executive at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, said the trust's first consideration was ensuring the safe treatment of patients at Staffordshire Hospital and across the region.

She added: "This is why we are working with our colleagues at Stafford & Surrounds Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), neighbouring trusts and the West Midlands Ambulance Service on a temporary solution which will help relieve the pressure on Stafford A&E and which, at the same time, will have a minimal impact on additional attendances at the A&E departments at surrounding hospitals."

A&E at New Cross in particular has been besieged with extra patients in the past two years, seeing record numbers.

The chief executive there, David Loughton, moved to allay any fears that the Wolverhampton hospital would suffer as a result of the bed closures.

He said: "We are currently working on a contingency plan because we believe Stafford Hospital will have to reduce its beds because of staffing problems.

"We will work with the ambulance service, UHNS, Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust and Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust to work out how to reduce the activity there."

Bosses at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust also confirmed they were in ongoing talks.

A spokeswoman said: "We are part of ongoing discussions, working closely with colleagues from across the region on the potential impact of any changes made by Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust and will do all we can to respond."

Ambulance chiefs have already been working with other hospitals in the area to reduce the number of patients taken to Stafford by its crews.

Spokeswoman Claire Brown said: "Working to a similar protocol as is used during the overnight closure, some patients will now be taken to neighbouring hospitals, where they would previously have been taken to Stafford.

"Additional funding has been agreed so that more ambulances are available so that the same level of patient care is maintained."

Earlier this week Andy Donald, head of Stafford and Surrounds CCG, said people didn't want Stafford Hospital on their CV, as it emerged the county was facing a shortage of 85 nurses and midwives.