Local Hospital Addresses Crisis in Critical Care

3.15.00pm GMT Mon 13th Dec 2004

On Tuesday the West Middlesex Hospital was asked to approve proposals for restructuring and improving its treatment of critically ill patients. There is evidence that the current arrangements are seriously defective, with inadequate numbers of trained staff, resulting in premature deaths and high mortality rates; West Middlesex also has the highest number of critically ill incubated patients transferred to other hospitals of any hospital in London.

The current arrangements have resulted in a disastrous fall in morale amongst nursing staff looking after critically ill patients with staff turnover of over 50% in a year - twelve nurses left simultaneously - and a vacancy rate of 50% up from 29% in 2003.

Vincent Cable MP said: "It is clear that the hospital has had serious problems coping with its most vulnerable and seriously ill patients and it is worrying that facts are only just emerging about disaffection of staff. It is as baffling to me as it must be to most of my constituents that, when the Government appears to be pouring money into the NHS, a local hospital does not seem able to find the money for the safe care of its patients. The new proposals before the board seem not just desirable, but essential."