Labour has revealed that NHS patients are being cared for on trolleys in Scottish hospital corridors because beds are not available.

Last night, Hamilton MSP Michael McMahon saw that staff at Monklands Hospital were being overwhelmed and under increasing pressure from frustrated and upset patients.

Mr MacMahon was visiting the hospital with his mother-in-law, who spent eight hours on a trolley before staff were able to find her a bed. She was sent to the hospital after a routine appointment at the clinic for a heart murmur and arrived at 4.30pm . It was not after midnight before she was given a bed.

According to staff, by mid-afternoon Monklands Hospital was 40 beds short. The situation at Hairmyres and Wishaw Hospitals was reportedly even worse. Labour says, this is the first clear evidence that the NHS is struggling to cope this winter.

Scottish Labour has warned that the SNP have left the NHS more exposed to a winter crisis than at any time in the last decade. Across Scotland , the number of blocked beds has doubled, while the overall number of beds has fallen.

Hamilton North and Bellshill MSP Michael McMahon said:

"My impression was that the staff at Monklands Hospital were totally overwhelmed through no fault of their own. The A&E department was struggling to cope with the high number of patients, many with respiratory problems.
 
"I was disappointed for the staff that were clearly harassed and coming under increasing pressure from frustrated and upset patients."

Shadow Health Secretary Cathy Jamieson said:

"I warned the Scottish Government that they had left the NHS more exposed to a winter crisis than at any time in the last decade. Nicola Sturgeon has been far too complacent and hospitals are now struggling to cope, with patients being cared for on trolleys in hospital corridors. This is completely unacceptable.

"Nicola Sturgeon needs to stop making excuses and get a grip. Under her watch, bed blocking has doubled while the overall number of hospital beds has fallen. The SNP's failure to plan properly for this winter has let down both staff and patients, who deserve better."  

6 January 2009

 
NOTES

Hairmyres and Wishaw Hospitals have closed to new admissions on 145 separate occasions in the last year. This represented an increase from 110 in 2006-07. The figures were revealed to Dr Richard Simpson as a result of a Freedom of Information request. They are particularly concerning as this winter's cold weather and an increase in flu cases is putting extra pressure on hospital beds and staff:  

-    Medical and surgical calls were redirected from Hairmyres Hospital accident and emergency department on 58 different occasions between July 2006 and the end of June 2007

-    Medical and surgical calls were redirected from Hairmyres Hospital accident and emergency department on 98 different occasions between July 2007 and the end of June 2008.

-    Medical and surgical calls were redirected from Wishaw General Hospital accident and emergency department on 52 different occasions between July 2006 and July 2007

-    Medical and surgical calls were redirected from Wishaw General Hospital accident and emergency department on 47 different occasions between July 2007 and July 2008.

NHS Lanarkshire had planned to invest £100 million expanding capacity at Hairmyres and Wishaw Hospitals . These plans have been put on hold. NHS Lanarkshire is being required to find savings of over £15 million this year.