Hundreds of patients wait too long at Russells Hall A&E
Nearly 300 patients were left waiting more than half an hour in ambulances outside a Black Country hospital in a month, according to new figures.
A total of 288 people had to wait more than 30 minutes in ambulances outside Russells Hall Hospital in March – with 35 left for more than one hour.
Council bosses have said Dudley’s NHS trust needs to work with West Midlands Ambulance Service and other partners in order to tackle the problem.
The trust said it has faced a five per cent rise in the number of ambulance attendances compared to the same period last year, but has improved in recent months.
Councillor Rachel Harris said: “The only way this can move forward is by all the hospitals, the ambulance service and other emergency services getting around a table and talking to each other about the practicalities and about keeping the system flowing.
“It needs more planning, more financing and more clear clinical leadership.”
So far this year there have been more than 1,400 breaches of the NHS 30-minute ambulance handover target at the hospital.
In January 691 patients waited more than 30 minutes, with 448 in February.
Trust bosses said they have seen progress and ‘outperformed’ other trusts in the Black Country on patient handover performance.
Karen Kelly, chief operating officer at Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We have seen progress in our handover times, which have significantly improved since December, and at times we have outperformed other trusts in the Black Country on patient handover performance.
“We continue to work across the health economy which includes representation from WMAS on how best to continue to improve handover times and ensure our patients receive the appropriate care needed.
“January to March has seen a five per cent increase compared to the same time last year, in ambulance attendances.
“We have a plan in place to continue to reduce handover times further.
“We work closely with our colleagues at West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) to make sure that patients who arrive by ambulance at A&E are assessed, treated and handed over as quickly and efficiently as possible.
“The pressure on our emergency services has been consistent throughout the last 12 months.
“The volume of ambulances and also the pattern of their arrival were, at times, very challenging.”
