APPENDIX 3
Memorandum submitted by Morriston Hospital NHS Trust
ACUTE MEDICAL
ADMISSIONS
As with other acute Trusts across the country, the Morriston
Hospital Trust have historically experienced increased patient
activity during the Winter period. The additional funding made
available during 1997-98 is therefore extremely welcome.
The funds that have been allocated to the Trust by Iechyd
Morgannwg Health will be used innovatively not only to make available
additional capacity within the Trust to accommodate greater numbers
of patients, but also utilised to support alternative and preventative
measures to admission to Hospital. The Morriston Hospital NHS
Trust is committed to delivering high quality services for patient
care, and improving the collaboration and joint delivery of services
together with our colleagues within the community services, Social
Services and particularly within Iechyd Morgannwg Health. As part
of the facilitation of these ideals, I would like to highlight
the following key issues, that require addressing, in order to
ensure the continuity of the delivery of high quality services:
(a) It is important to recognise that there is a trend
of increased activity for Medical Admissions during the Winter
period. Historically, that activity has typically lengthened during
the period December through to February, and it is important to
now note that this period seems to have increased and increased
pressures are now being seen during October through to the end
of March. Additionally, unlike in previous years where the activity
seemed to concentrate heavily on Medical Admissions, the Morriston
NHS Trust have also begun to see an increase in Surgical Emergency
Admissions during similar periods. Whilst it is recognised that
there is a larger and growing population of people over the age
of 65 and indeed over the age of 85, the Trust would welcome the
instigation of a fundamental review of the causation of such increased
activity during the Winter period.
(b) Whilst additional funding to appropriately manage
the increased activity that occurs during the Winter period is
extremely welcome, the process does cause some difficulties. These
difficulties mainly relate to the temporary nature of the additional
funding, when the expectation is to suddenly make available further
capacity for the increased activity. Very often these resources
are temporary in nature, and a great deal of effort is required
in organising the commissioning of such capacity and the sometimes
difficult scenarios that can be encountered when decommissioning
schemes at the end of the funding arrangements. The Morriston
Hospital NHS Trust would welcome the additional funds being made
available on a recurring basis, but specifically directed towards
schemes such as Minimal Dependency Units/Pre-Discharge Areas,
in order that these facilities can be resourced and made available
for these fluctuations in Annual Activity.
In conclusion, additional funding for increased activity
is welcomed, and it is important that services provided by both
local authorities and Health Service organisations work collaboratively
to deliver the best possible services to patients in their localities.
Responding to the issues contained within the submission is therefore
key to sustaining and delivering this key goal.
Richard S Thomas
Chief Executive
27 November 1997
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