Hospital trust fined more than £250k for long A&E waits
The trust that runs Walsall Manor Hospital has been fined more than £250,000 this year for missing A&E waiting time targets.
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust paid out £57,000 just last month after only 81 per cent of patients were seen within four hours. The national target is 90 per cent.
The under pressure department has not hit the benchmark since May 2015, and the trust has been fined a total of £257,000 so far this year.
In January the unit recorded its lowest ever figure, with just 75 per cent of patients being seen within four hours.
There were a total of 1,752 breaches last month, while for September the trust ranked 119th nationally out of 134 in terms of A&E target performance, and ninth out of 14 regionally.
This compared to the previous month’s respective ranks of 124th and 11th nationally.
It is estimated that more than 6,000 patients on average walk through the doors of the A&E every month.
Philip Thomas-Hands, the trust’s chief operating officer, said: “September saw us re-organising our medical teams in preparation for the winter ahead.
“The new systems, on some days, meant that over 90 per cent of Walsall people arriving were treated within four hours in our Emergency Department.
“At the end of the month, in particular, the trust received more attendances than expected and this resulted in patients requiring admission – using beds that we had made available, as part of our re-organisation of wards, medical and also nursing staff.
“We believe we are getting back on track and October’s performance times are showing an improvement as a result of teams working in new ways.
“At this time of year it also worth reminding residents of the healthcare services available throughout the borough to help them Stay Well This Winter and avoid hospital admission altogether, keeping ED free for those with life-threatening or serious conditions.”
The figures will be discussed at a trust board meeting tomorrow.
