Fear Sandwell hospital could run out of beds
Increases in admissions and an expected virulent influenza strain have raised fears hospitals could run out of beds this winter, it has been revealed.
Health chiefs are seeking to transfer some services from Sandwell General Hospital to City Hospital in order to deal with the expected surge in patients during December and January.
Toby Lewis, chief executive for Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Hospital Trust, said he wanted to reconfigure wards to ensure acute health services could cope with winter pressures.
Speaking to a Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Birmingham and Sandwell councillors he said over recent months general admissions had increased by 12.5 per cent.
He added that unless those figures begin to fall, steps will be needed to be taken now to cope when an expected virulent Australian influenza strain reaches Britain.
Asked why admissions had increased he said that there was no clear evidence at present to explain the rise, saying: “Now it has happened for four months, unless my team can convince my trust board meeting next week that it will stop before Christmas then I need to add that 12.5 per cent to the Australian flu that is bound to see a rise in admissions this winter.
“If I put those two things together, I physically run out of space hence my wanting to move one ward from Sandwell.”
Saying the trust had already planned to transfer chest medicine to City Hospital next year, he said those plans need to be brought forward, adding: “Now we are running out of beds there is a need for a second reason and more pressing reason to make that change.”
He added patients suffering respiratory problems could still attend Sandwell General but if they needed to be admitted for more than 48 hours they would be transferred to City Hospital.
