EXTRA beds are being brought in at Barnsley Hospital after bosses revealed they are anticipating a 30 per cent increase in inpatients over the winter due to the likelihood of a surge in Covid-19 infections.
According to a report obtained by the Chronicle, the Gawber facility is expecting more than a quarter of its 300-a-day attendances to its accident and emergency department to require a longer stay.
The extra capacity - which totals 24 beds on ward 37 - will cost £667,000 to implement and will be in place from this month to May 2025.
Hospital bosses expect an average of 75 to 80 admissions a day, but anticipate discharges to even the demand.
“We require advanced preparation to manage the predicted sustained pressure on bed capacity across the health and local economy of Barnsley during the 2024/25 winter period.
“Each winter the NHS prepares for the challenges of winter in order to ensure it can sustain the delivery of quality and safe care to the national population.
“It is required that all NHS organisations have winter preparedness plans based on local risk assessment and the Integrated Care Board will require assurance that these plans are ‘fit for purpose’.
“We have legacy learning from previous winters, influenza and
pandemic outbreaks.
“Traditionally acute trusts are expected to plan for a 30 per cent increase in inpatient activity with increased influenza, norovirus and other respiratory illnesses alongside an increase in the age and frailty of patients.
“These factors tend to lead to an increased length of stay and an increase in the number of bed days across the trust.
“Barnsley Hospital reviews its plans annually for meeting the winter
demand for inpatient beds but this year takes place within the context of ongoing urgent and emergency pressures plus the increase likelihood of influenza and Covid infections.
“Once the trust reaches ten per cent of bed base impacted from infection, the escalation framework will be enacted as there is a high risk to patient flow.
“While various constraints - buildings, finance and time - mean that compromises are unavoidable, the proposals would enable Barnsley Hospital to meet the demand for inpatient beds for the majority of time over the forthcoming winter and to do so in a way that balances competing imperatives including maintaining elective surgical provision.”
Aside from the cost of the extra beds, the report suggests wages to cover ward 37 will top £400,000.
Minister of State for Health, Karin Smyth, added: “We’ve inherited an NHS that is broken but not beaten - staff have been doing an excellent job in coping with record attendances at A and Es this summer.
“We know winter presents even greater challenges, so we’re wasting no time in readying the health and social care system for what’s ahead.
“Services have been failed for too long and change cannot happen overnight, but we are working closely with trusts and local authorities across the country to start our preparations for the colder months as we continue our plans to build an NHS that is fit for the future.
“We have also made it a priority to reset relations with junior doctors, with the Health Secretary agreeing an offer the British Medical Association would recommend to their members just over three weeks into the role.
“This is a fair offer which paves the way to ending the devastating strikes which wreaked havoc last winter and will put the NHS in a stronger position to cope with this year’s winter pressures.
“But this government has been clear that we cannot continue to fix the annual winter crisis with sticking plasters.
“That is why we are working to radically reform the NHS through the ten-year plan and build a health service that is fit for the future all year round.”
