15.05.13
Pressures on A&E could lead to winter ‘collapse’
The emergency care system is in danger of collapse, the Foundation Trust Network (FTN) has warned, highlighting how the funding system penalises A&E units for the rise in patients.
The warning follows the new report by the College of Emergency Medicine, which set out a series of recommendations on staffing, non-emergency care, and quality assessments.
Emergency departments are only paid 30% of the normal fee per patient when numbers rise above 2008/09 levels, costing hospitals millions.
NHS England has ordered a review of emergency and urgent care, to be led by medical director Sir Bruce Keogh.
FTN chief executive Chris Hopson said: “Unless we can change the funding structure, the A&E system is going to fall over. We simply cannot carry on.
“Unless we can make some really significant changes over the next six months I think it's pretty clear the system is in danger of falling over next winter.”
Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham told BBC 5 Live: “Warnings don't come any more serious than this.
“Too many hospitals around England are sailing dangerously close to the wind, operating way beyond safe bed occupancy levels. As people get older, we've got to support them in their homes so they don't end up in hospital.
“But we've also got to deal with the here and now and we can't have people waiting on trolleys in corridors and being treated in the back of ambulances. The Government has got to get a grip on the situation and it's got to do it now.”
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