APPENDIX 1
Memorandum submitted by Swansea NHS Trust
EXTRA £9.5 MILLION
FOR THE
NHS IN WALES
I refer to your letter of 13 November 1997 which provided
me with the opportunity to offer comment on the extra £9.5
million for the NHS in Wales.
I would be grateful if you would note the following:
1. At the time of writing there has been no final decision
regarding the allocation of funds locally.
2. The NHS in Wales is under severe pressure at the present
time and any allocation from the additional funding will be gratefully
received by my Trust.
3. Ideally, such additional investment would be available
much earlier in the financial year to allow staff recruitment
and planning for the most appropriate use of resources. This would
help prepare the NHS for the winter ahead. Another key to this
investment is that it needs to be made recurringly.
4. Assuming substantial funds will be forthcoming, this
Trust's priority will be the provision of additional nursing staff
to help deal with the winter-time pressures. As well as raising
nursing numbers at ward level, we are planning this winter to
use the services of nurses who will concentrate on discharging
patients at the earliest possible time, therefore freeing up beds
for emergency admissions.
5. The additional resources will be used by many Trusts
to recruit nursing staff and the recruitment will be taking place
from a pool of available nurses which is already very small. Consideration
may need to be given to increasing nurse recruitment numbers if
the winter-time pressures of the last five years or so continue
to increase unabated.
David M Williams
Chief Executive
21 November 1997
|
