Hospital issues another appeal after surge at A&E

10:50pm Saturday 16th February 2013 in News By Lawrence Dunhill

Hospital issues another appeal after surge at A&E Hospital issues another appeal after surge at A&E

STOKE Mandeville Hospital has again seen a surge in attendances this weekend and bosses are urging people to stay away unless it is a ‘real emergency’.

A statement issued by hospital spokesman Lee Jones said: “Stoke Mandeville Hospital is experiencing one of its busiest weekends. We are asking the public not to come to hospital unless it is a real emergency which requires immediate attention.

"The hospital is seeing a large number of people coming to its A&E department who could be better treated by their out-of-hours GP, their local pharmacy, by calling NHS Direct (0845 4647) or attending the Minor Injury or Illness Unit at Wycombe Hospital.

“This will allow our A&E doctors at Stoke Mandeville to treat those very ill patients who need our expertise.

“The hospital is also affected by norovirus at the moment, with wards closed to visiting in order to protect patients and staff. We are reminding the public not to visit the hospital this weekend, particularly if you have experience diarrhoea or vomiting over the past 48 hours.”

The primary care trust for Bucks says 'half-term pressures' have led to the increased attendances.

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Comments (34)

11:18pm Sat 16 Feb 13

ivor says...

Not again!
~
Fast becoming know by many as “The stay away A&E” this service is obviously unfit for purpose and we need the mothballed A&E department at Wycombe General Hospital re-opened as soon as possible.
~
Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “Your say” then “Blogs” links at the top of this page.
Not again! ~ Fast becoming know by many as “The stay away A&E” this service is obviously unfit for purpose and we need the mothballed A&E department at Wycombe General Hospital re-opened as soon as possible. ~ Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “Your say” then “Blogs” links at the top of this page. ivor

11:28pm Sat 16 Feb 13

Little Lisa says...

They should of thought about that then before taking Wycombe A&E away. Bring back wycombe A&E .... Simple.
They should of thought about that then before taking Wycombe A&E away. Bring back wycombe A&E .... Simple. Little Lisa

11:32pm Sat 16 Feb 13

Drummer-12 says...

Bring back wycombe A+E!
Bring back wycombe A+E! Drummer-12

1:54am Sun 17 Feb 13

Honey33 says...

Accept that relocation of A&E was bad decision and bring it back to HW and your problems are solved. Sad fact is, It takes courage to accept this mistake which spineless bosses don't have.
Accept that relocation of A&E was bad decision and bring it back to HW and your problems are solved. Sad fact is, It takes courage to accept this mistake which spineless bosses don't have. Honey33

2:15am Sun 17 Feb 13

delb88 says...

I hope I have nothing more serious than a cut finger..............
I hope I have nothing more serious than a cut finger.............. delb88

8:29am Sun 17 Feb 13

page3 says...

I have a brilliant idea for relieving the clearly overstretched services at Stoke Mandeville. What we need to do is have an A&E local to another of the large town's in Bucks, say High Wycombe.

Now, why did no one else think of this?
I have a brilliant idea for relieving the clearly overstretched services at Stoke Mandeville. What we need to do is have an A&E local to another of the large town's in Bucks, say High Wycombe. Now, why did no one else think of this? page3

8:50am Sun 17 Feb 13

Scarletto says...

The regular nightmare continues. With all the scandals in Stafford etc etc. lately are we coming ever closer to an awful crisis in our area? SM has already been criticised for other things in recent years, is clearly overwhelmed and yet no real action is taken.
Everyone should write to the health minister to shout our protests. Otherwise nothing will happen, more peolple will have lives at risk and others will suffer more.
Is our population suffering from inertia to not complain more assertively? People probably sat on their hands in Stafford area too, for a while till it finally blew into an awful situation.
The regular nightmare continues. With all the scandals in Stafford etc etc. lately are we coming ever closer to an awful crisis in our area? SM has already been criticised for other things in recent years, is clearly overwhelmed and yet no real action is taken. Everyone should write to the health minister to shout our protests. Otherwise nothing will happen, more peolple will have lives at risk and others will suffer more. Is our population suffering from inertia to not complain more assertively? People probably sat on their hands in Stafford area too, for a while till it finally blew into an awful situation. Scarletto

9:21am Sun 17 Feb 13

miccles says...

What decent hospital would tell the public too stay away? Isn't the purpose of a hospital and A&E to treat the public, but i forgot, this is not a decent hospital, its Stoke Mandeville.

There is a nice lot of space at High Wycombe.
What decent hospital would tell the public too stay away? Isn't the purpose of a hospital and A&E to treat the public, but i forgot, this is not a decent hospital, its Stoke Mandeville. There is a nice lot of space at High Wycombe. miccles

9:43am Sun 17 Feb 13

brookie77 says...

Get the goverment to do their job properly then & bring back Wycombe hospital PROPERLY!! I hope Stoke Mandeville keep getting trouble like this it might make them think twice!!
Get the goverment to do their job properly then & bring back Wycombe hospital PROPERLY!! I hope Stoke Mandeville keep getting trouble like this it might make them think twice!! brookie77

9:52am Sun 17 Feb 13

johnmfritz says...

What a surprise! What the hell did they expect?
What a surprise! What the hell did they expect? johnmfritz

11:45am Sun 17 Feb 13

Sparkles26 says...

More than happy to stay away from the place! It's a total liability!!!
More than happy to stay away from the place! It's a total liability!!! Sparkles26

1:37pm Sun 17 Feb 13

Voyeur says...

If they had an A&E at Wycombe Hospital they could ask people not to come there instead!
If they had an A&E at Wycombe Hospital they could ask people not to come there instead! Voyeur

1:42pm Sun 17 Feb 13

AlanC says...

I was one of the emergencies at SM yesterday but thankfully going in at 5am beat much of the rush.
Whilst the service was good and I was discharged at 3pm, I was parked on a trolley in the A&E area for some time along with others before being moved once a cubicle became free. The staff were clearly working under extreme pressure later in the day to move people through the process.
It does seem wrong that Wycombe A&E is closed and that Stoke M now has to serve two towns and their districts. I do wonder how many "minor injuries" Wycombe does deal with to justify that unit.
I was one of the emergencies at SM yesterday but thankfully going in at 5am beat much of the rush. Whilst the service was good and I was discharged at 3pm, I was parked on a trolley in the A&E area for some time along with others before being moved once a cubicle became free. The staff were clearly working under extreme pressure later in the day to move people through the process. It does seem wrong that Wycombe A&E is closed and that Stoke M now has to serve two towns and their districts. I do wonder how many "minor injuries" Wycombe does deal with to justify that unit. AlanC

1:54pm Sun 17 Feb 13

Bookworm123 says...

AlanC wrote:
I was one of the emergencies at SM yesterday but thankfully going in at 5am beat much of the rush.
Whilst the service was good and I was discharged at 3pm, I was parked on a trolley in the A&E area for some time along with others before being moved once a cubicle became free. The staff were clearly working under extreme pressure later in the day to move people through the process.
It does seem wrong that Wycombe A&E is closed and that Stoke M now has to serve two towns and their districts. I do wonder how many "minor injuries" Wycombe does deal with to justify that unit.
I wonder how much the "minor injuries unit" is just a PR sop to everyone complaining about the A&E closure - a halfway house before completely losing that as well. I had two friends in SM yesterday as well - both reported having to sit on chairs in the corridor because there were no trolleys. There were also people from Hemel there because the A&E closure at Hemel Hospital. The staff did their best but were clearly overwhelmed and desperate to try and get beds for any admissions. Closure of Wycombe A&E is clearly a mistake - why won't someone admit that and do something about it. Maybe it needs one of the decision-makers to have to sit in A&E on a chair whilst desperately needing to lay down for any changes to happen!
[quote][p][bold]AlanC[/bold] wrote: I was one of the emergencies at SM yesterday but thankfully going in at 5am beat much of the rush. Whilst the service was good and I was discharged at 3pm, I was parked on a trolley in the A&E area for some time along with others before being moved once a cubicle became free. The staff were clearly working under extreme pressure later in the day to move people through the process. It does seem wrong that Wycombe A&E is closed and that Stoke M now has to serve two towns and their districts. I do wonder how many "minor injuries" Wycombe does deal with to justify that unit.[/p][/quote]I wonder how much the "minor injuries unit" is just a PR sop to everyone complaining about the A&E closure - a halfway house before completely losing that as well. I had two friends in SM yesterday as well - both reported having to sit on chairs in the corridor because there were no trolleys. There were also people from Hemel there because the A&E closure at Hemel Hospital. The staff did their best but were clearly overwhelmed and desperate to try and get beds for any admissions. Closure of Wycombe A&E is clearly a mistake - why won't someone admit that and do something about it. Maybe it needs one of the decision-makers to have to sit in A&E on a chair whilst desperately needing to lay down for any changes to happen! Bookworm123

3:02pm Sun 17 Feb 13

esilvester says...

When I moved to Wycombe, I was shocked and confused by the decision to close A&E. Any sane person could see that it was a stupid decision. The public meetings were a farce and the arrogance of the health service officials was astounding. Now, with yet another crisis at SM, all we can say is WE TOLD YOU SO.

Idiots. Few things have ever made me this angry. Someone should be made to pay for this incompetence.
When I moved to Wycombe, I was shocked and confused by the decision to close A&E. Any sane person could see that it was a stupid decision. The public meetings were a farce and the arrogance of the health service officials was astounding. Now, with yet another crisis at SM, all we can say is WE TOLD YOU SO. Idiots. Few things have ever made me this angry. Someone should be made to pay for this incompetence. esilvester

4:14pm Sun 17 Feb 13

Scarletto says...

YES, I'VE BEEN TOLD A COUNT IS BEING MADE OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE USING THE MINOR INJURIES UNIT IN WYCOMBE AND THEN THERE WILL BE AN ASSESSMENT MADE ON WHETHER IT'S VIABLE AND FEASIBLE TO CONTINUE.
YES, I'VE BEEN TOLD A COUNT IS BEING MADE OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE USING THE MINOR INJURIES UNIT IN WYCOMBE AND THEN THERE WILL BE AN ASSESSMENT MADE ON WHETHER IT'S VIABLE AND FEASIBLE TO CONTINUE. Scarletto

6:51pm Sun 17 Feb 13

mitch12 says...

why don't people protest about things like this they seem to just moan and do nothing usual.
why don't people protest about things like this they seem to just moan and do nothing usual. mitch12

8:26pm Sun 17 Feb 13

jeff01 says...

This story is genius!! So today went to Wycombe as my child had a suspected broken leg.... they couldnt do anything at Wycombe, told to go to Stoke M, 4 hours and one plaster cast later we finally get out.... Irony told Wycombe could have done what they did at Stoke M after diagnosis and X-ray. So after applying for my overdraft for the car parking at Stoke M and spending a number of hours in a grotty hospital it amused me to see this story.... also Wycombe we were the only people there!! What do I pay taxes for in Wycombe? The hospital? The roads? Someone tell me?
This story is genius!! So today went to Wycombe as my child had a suspected broken leg.... they couldnt do anything at Wycombe, told to go to Stoke M, 4 hours and one plaster cast later we finally get out.... Irony told Wycombe could have done what they did at Stoke M after diagnosis and X-ray. So after applying for my overdraft for the car parking at Stoke M and spending a number of hours in a grotty hospital it amused me to see this story.... also Wycombe we were the only people there!! What do I pay taxes for in Wycombe? The hospital? The roads? Someone tell me? jeff01

10:48pm Sun 17 Feb 13

marlow12 says...

what will it take oh i know one of the bosses kids to get sick in wycombe then they will open it again there are no major roads through ayelsbury where as in the wycombe district we have m25 m4 m40 a404 plus main line rail and also remember wycombe is the biggest town in the county how thick are to realise wycombe needs its a&e back and soon
what will it take oh i know one of the bosses kids to get sick in wycombe then they will open it again there are no major roads through ayelsbury where as in the wycombe district we have m25 m4 m40 a404 plus main line rail and also remember wycombe is the biggest town in the county how thick are to realise wycombe needs its a&e back and soon marlow12

11:23pm Sun 17 Feb 13

BOOKERite says...

mitch12 wrote:
why don't people protest about things like this they seem to just moan and do nothing usual.
I'm with you Mitch12, how many people can we get to march through Wycombe? We marched to protest against the proposed stadium and it worked!
[quote][p][bold]mitch12[/bold] wrote: why don't people protest about things like this they seem to just moan and do nothing usual.[/p][/quote]I'm with you Mitch12, how many people can we get to march through Wycombe? We marched to protest against the proposed stadium and it worked! BOOKERite

1:38am Mon 18 Feb 13

Ktat31 says...

BOOKERite wrote:
mitch12 wrote: why don't people protest about things like this they seem to just moan and do nothing usual.
I'm with you Mitch12, how many people can we get to march through Wycombe? We marched to protest against the proposed stadium and it worked!
I agree the people of High Wycombe need to make a stand. This hospital situation is beyond ridiculous. I have no idea how to get a protest started but if anyone does please do it. I will be there supporting it. With the social media networks we have I am sure we could get hundreds of people to join together and fight to get a hospital with full services back here.
[quote][p][bold]BOOKERite[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]mitch12[/bold] wrote: why don't people protest about things like this they seem to just moan and do nothing usual.[/p][/quote]I'm with you Mitch12, how many people can we get to march through Wycombe? We marched to protest against the proposed stadium and it worked![/p][/quote]I agree the people of High Wycombe need to make a stand. This hospital situation is beyond ridiculous. I have no idea how to get a protest started but if anyone does please do it. I will be there supporting it. With the social media networks we have I am sure we could get hundreds of people to join together and fight to get a hospital with full services back here. Ktat31

9:44am Mon 18 Feb 13

Can I just say..... says...

Bring our A&E Back!
Bring our A&E Back! Can I just say.....

1:42pm Mon 18 Feb 13

gpn01 says...

page3 wrote:
I have a brilliant idea for relieving the clearly overstretched services at Stoke Mandeville. What we need to do is have an A&E local to another of the large town's in Bucks, say High Wycombe. Now, why did no one else think of this?
They will page3. They will....
[quote][p][bold]page3[/bold] wrote: I have a brilliant idea for relieving the clearly overstretched services at Stoke Mandeville. What we need to do is have an A&E local to another of the large town's in Bucks, say High Wycombe. Now, why did no one else think of this?[/p][/quote]They will page3. They will.... gpn01

3:56pm Mon 18 Feb 13

Slacker says...

It will end up a vicious cycle - staff get overworked, they go off sick. Hospital have to pull in agency/bank staff which cost more on an hourly rate than the regular staff, so these cost savings they want to make will be lost to these things like replacement staff.

If the powers that be are adamant that they need to make these cost savings and not bring back a full A&E how about another idea - have a part time A&E at Wycombe during the busy times like weekends to lessen the heavy duty on Stoke Mandeville and Wexham Park and close it during the week keeping the minor injuries unit open at all other times.
It will end up a vicious cycle - staff get overworked, they go off sick. Hospital have to pull in agency/bank staff which cost more on an hourly rate than the regular staff, so these cost savings they want to make will be lost to these things like replacement staff. If the powers that be are adamant that they need to make these cost savings and not bring back a full A&E how about another idea - have a part time A&E at Wycombe during the busy times like weekends to lessen the heavy duty on Stoke Mandeville and Wexham Park and close it during the week keeping the minor injuries unit open at all other times. Slacker

10:00pm Mon 18 Feb 13

cezyboo says...

Ktat31 wrote:
BOOKERite wrote:
mitch12 wrote: why don't people protest about things like this they seem to just moan and do nothing usual.
I'm with you Mitch12, how many people can we get to march through Wycombe? We marched to protest against the proposed stadium and it worked!
I agree the people of High Wycombe need to make a stand. This hospital situation is beyond ridiculous. I have no idea how to get a protest started but if anyone does please do it. I will be there supporting it. With the social media networks we have I am sure we could get hundreds of people to join together and fight to get a hospital with full services back here.
I will be there too, but again wouldn't really know how to get one started. Not unless Ozma can help?
[quote][p][bold]Ktat31[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]BOOKERite[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]mitch12[/bold] wrote: why don't people protest about things like this they seem to just moan and do nothing usual.[/p][/quote]I'm with you Mitch12, how many people can we get to march through Wycombe? We marched to protest against the proposed stadium and it worked![/p][/quote]I agree the people of High Wycombe need to make a stand. This hospital situation is beyond ridiculous. I have no idea how to get a protest started but if anyone does please do it. I will be there supporting it. With the social media networks we have I am sure we could get hundreds of people to join together and fight to get a hospital with full services back here.[/p][/quote]I will be there too, but again wouldn't really know how to get one started. Not unless Ozma can help? cezyboo

10:56pm Mon 18 Feb 13

stevet123 says...

the people who decided that Wycombes A & E should close and transfer to stoke manderville, well when they need A&E hope the ambulance takes them to a nhs run hospital miles away from there home, se how they like it. pencil pushing ****
the people who decided that Wycombes A & E should close and transfer to stoke manderville, well when they need A&E hope the ambulance takes them to a nhs run hospital miles away from there home, se how they like it. pencil pushing **** stevet123

12:23pm Tue 19 Feb 13

BOOKERite says...

cezyboo wrote:
Ktat31 wrote:
BOOKERite wrote:
mitch12 wrote: why don't people protest about things like this they seem to just moan and do nothing usual.
I'm with you Mitch12, how many people can we get to march through Wycombe? We marched to protest against the proposed stadium and it worked!
I agree the people of High Wycombe need to make a stand. This hospital situation is beyond ridiculous. I have no idea how to get a protest started but if anyone does please do it. I will be there supporting it. With the social media networks we have I am sure we could get hundreds of people to join together and fight to get a hospital with full services back here.
I will be there too, but again wouldn't really know how to get one started. Not unless Ozma can help?
Perhaps if we all get on to our local Councillors, many of them have expressed their strong feelings about the closure of the A & E at Wycombe as well as the other services there. Perhaps even Steve Baker, will he 'put his money where his mouth is'?
[quote][p][bold]cezyboo[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Ktat31[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]BOOKERite[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]mitch12[/bold] wrote: why don't people protest about things like this they seem to just moan and do nothing usual.[/p][/quote]I'm with you Mitch12, how many people can we get to march through Wycombe? We marched to protest against the proposed stadium and it worked![/p][/quote]I agree the people of High Wycombe need to make a stand. This hospital situation is beyond ridiculous. I have no idea how to get a protest started but if anyone does please do it. I will be there supporting it. With the social media networks we have I am sure we could get hundreds of people to join together and fight to get a hospital with full services back here.[/p][/quote]I will be there too, but again wouldn't really know how to get one started. Not unless Ozma can help?[/p][/quote]Perhaps if we all get on to our local Councillors, many of them have expressed their strong feelings about the closure of the A & E at Wycombe as well as the other services there. Perhaps even Steve Baker, will he 'put his money where his mouth is'? BOOKERite

6:45pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Voyeur says...

$ A&E centres in London are closing. It looks like Wycombe is leading the way.
$ A&E centres in London are closing. It looks like Wycombe is leading the way. Voyeur

6:46pm Tue 19 Feb 13

Voyeur says...

Four A&E centres in London are closing. It looks like Wycombe is leading the way.
Four A&E centres in London are closing. It looks like Wycombe is leading the way. Voyeur

1:10am Wed 20 Feb 13

chocolate chip cookies says...

For those of you on Facebook, this group may be worth joining as starting point
https://www.facebook
.com/#!/groups/10936
913027/
For those of you on Facebook, this group may be worth joining as starting point https://www.facebook .com/#!/groups/10936 913027/ chocolate chip cookies

1:14am Wed 20 Feb 13

chocolate chip cookies says...

https://www.facebook
.com/#!/groups/10936
913027

(or search for leave wycombe general hospital be)
https://www.facebook .com/#!/groups/10936 913027 (or search for leave wycombe general hospital be) chocolate chip cookies

10:29am Wed 20 Feb 13

Agniesca says...

I thought that the changes to Wycombe Hospital were opposed by the local MP, County councillors, district councillors and local health groups, but that NHS managers are exempt from needing to action anything produced by any democratic process
I thought that the changes to Wycombe Hospital were opposed by the local MP, County councillors, district councillors and local health groups, but that NHS managers are exempt from needing to action anything produced by any democratic process Agniesca

4:21pm Wed 20 Feb 13

chocolate chip cookies says...

BOOKERite wrote:
cezyboo wrote:
Ktat31 wrote:
BOOKERite wrote:
mitch12 wrote: why don't people protest about things like this they seem to just moan and do nothing usual.
I'm with you Mitch12, how many people can we get to march through Wycombe? We marched to protest against the proposed stadium and it worked!
I agree the people of High Wycombe need to make a stand. This hospital situation is beyond ridiculous. I have no idea how to get a protest started but if anyone does please do it. I will be there supporting it. With the social media networks we have I am sure we could get hundreds of people to join together and fight to get a hospital with full services back here.
I will be there too, but again wouldn't really know how to get one started. Not unless Ozma can help?
Perhaps if we all get on to our local Councillors, many of them have expressed their strong feelings about the closure of the A & E at Wycombe as well as the other services there. Perhaps even Steve Baker, will he 'put his money where his mouth is'?
agree we should get onto our MP and councillors- show them we still want A&E back
[quote][p][bold]BOOKERite[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]cezyboo[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]Ktat31[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]BOOKERite[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]mitch12[/bold] wrote: why don't people protest about things like this they seem to just moan and do nothing usual.[/p][/quote]I'm with you Mitch12, how many people can we get to march through Wycombe? We marched to protest against the proposed stadium and it worked![/p][/quote]I agree the people of High Wycombe need to make a stand. This hospital situation is beyond ridiculous. I have no idea how to get a protest started but if anyone does please do it. I will be there supporting it. With the social media networks we have I am sure we could get hundreds of people to join together and fight to get a hospital with full services back here.[/p][/quote]I will be there too, but again wouldn't really know how to get one started. Not unless Ozma can help?[/p][/quote]Perhaps if we all get on to our local Councillors, many of them have expressed their strong feelings about the closure of the A & E at Wycombe as well as the other services there. Perhaps even Steve Baker, will he 'put his money where his mouth is'?[/p][/quote]agree we should get onto our MP and councillors- show them we still want A&E back chocolate chip cookies

6:23pm Wed 20 Feb 13

naphillgirl says...

I took my daughter there with a suspected broken thumb on a Saturday lunch time. We were seen very quickly and sent for x-ray. After diagnosing a bad sprain rather than a break I was told that this could have been completely dealt with at Wycombe!

I think half the problem is that we (meaning I) don't know what Wycombe can and cannot do - I am still waiting for the leaflet to come through the post!!

On the other hand re-open Wycombe's A&E so we all know where we stand.
I took my daughter there with a suspected broken thumb on a Saturday lunch time. We were seen very quickly and sent for x-ray. After diagnosing a bad sprain rather than a break I was told that this could have been completely dealt with at Wycombe! I think half the problem is that we (meaning I) don't know what Wycombe can and cannot do - I am still waiting for the leaflet to come through the post!! On the other hand re-open Wycombe's A&E so we all know where we stand. naphillgirl

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