Hundreds transferred from Walsall Manor after waits of up to a year
Hundreds of patients are being transferred from Walsall Manor to other hospitals after waiting up to a year for treatment, bosses have revealed.
The heath trust has been forced to put together new £2 million plans because of a backlog caused by rising emergency admissions and referrals.
Some pre-planned treatment has had to be cancelled with patients in orthopaedics, oral surgery and eye problems amongst those impacted upon.
Now around 600 patients are now being offered alternative appointments elsewhere at Birmingham Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Spire Little Aston, Ramsay Hospital in Halesowen or the Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre.
It comes as the trust is struggling to meet the 18 week target target for patients and the cost of using other hospitals is being met through Government funding.
Chief executive Richard Kirby said: "We haven't before gone to hospitals outside our own to make sure we can treat people fast enough.
"We wouldn't want it to be something we do all the time. But we have got more people waiting for treatment than we can treat quickly enough.
"It is treatment we are offering at other hospitals rather than us forcing people to move. We are not going to force people to move if they want to wait here.
"The more people who agree to the offer of treatment elsewhere the faster we can get the backlog clear."
He added: "We know it is causing difficulties for patients, they are telling us that. This is causing a fairly high level of frustration for colleagues.
"We want to have made a big impact by the end of December and be back to business as usual by the end of January.
"We know too many people have waited too long, it is not on. Using this capacity in other hospitals is going to help us do that.
Of the 600, there have been 20 who have waited up to a year, but bosses insist they will be seen by the end of the month.
There has been an increase in demand across most of the hospital's elective specialities. This has seen a 20 per cent rise in referrals the likes of including orthopaedics and breast surgery.
Walsall Manor has seen more patients coming from Staffordshire over the last few years which is set to further rise in the future. In a bid to reach the 18 week standard from now on the trust is also improving its booking system.
