Coffee Posted November 14, 2013 Report Share Posted November 14, 2013 Last night on the news they were saying that only the largest A and Es should handle strokes, heart attacks and so on. What is Warrington A and E classed as? I do not fancy being transported all the way to Manchester or Liverpool while I am having a heart attack especially during rush hour, unless by a helicopter, even though the Paramedics do a wonderful job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted November 14, 2013 Report Share Posted November 14, 2013 Heart attack cases are now transferred to the Cardiac Unit at Broad Green. It's all part of the creation of "specialist hubs", where expertise is being concentrated. What they aren't mentioning, is the shortage of experienced staff (1600 nurses in the N/West) and the deliberate leaving of posts vacant to save money; that seems to be forcing these innovations on the NHS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coffee Posted November 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 14, 2013 Since when? When my mum had a heart attack October last year she was treated very well in a specialist unit in Warrington, once she got transferred onto normal wards the care was not so good but that is a different topic. I note the unit is still there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted November 14, 2013 Report Share Posted November 14, 2013 Since last week Coffee; when a close relative was taken there - from Warrington. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil Sid Posted November 14, 2013 Report Share Posted November 14, 2013 It all depends on what the ambulance people find when they arrive. IF there is evidence of somebody having a heart attack then they will be taken to broad green straight away. If there is no evidence then they will be taken to Warrington to be assessed by means of a blood test, this may show that the person has had a heart attack when the heart machine in the ambulance shows relatively normal heart function. I only know this as my mother had another heart attack about six or so months back and when the ambulance turned up and put the monitor on her it showed nothing untoward so she was taken to Warrington hospital. After being kept in overnight as a precaution,the blood test confirmed that she had indeed had a heart attack.The paramedic at the time said that if anything had shown up she would have been taken to broad green. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coffee Posted November 15, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2013 Since last week Coffee; when a close relative was taken there - from Warrington. Sorry to hear that, hope your relative gets beter soon. I was in hospital last week for a blood test and the coronary care unit that treated my mother last year is still open, The question though is still what is the status of our A+E? Should Warrington not have an A+E capable of dealing with heart attacks and so on, Warrington is not a small town. Also if ambulances will be racing off to Manchester and Liverpool then we will require more ambulances to be available?. I mean even on blue light broad green must be 20 minutes away if not more, 30 minutes back, then factor in traffic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted November 15, 2013 Report Share Posted November 15, 2013 I agree, every community imo, should have a General Hospital with the capacity to serve it fully; and taking your point about travel distance on ever more congested roads. However, I think these innovations are being forced on the system by staff shortages due to a lack of funding and trained recruits. Apparently, in the ward with my relative, was a chap from N/Wales and one from the Isle of Man; which indicates the size of it's catchment area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coffee Posted November 15, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2013 I do not get why the French and Swedish health systems for example are so much better yet their spending on the health service is not so much greater. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted November 15, 2013 Report Share Posted November 15, 2013 Perhaps their politicians don't tamper with it as often?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazj Posted November 15, 2013 Report Share Posted November 15, 2013 I do not get why the French and Swedish health systems for example are so much better yet their spending on the health service is not so much greater. perhaps their system isn't abused as much as ours is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lt Kije Posted November 16, 2013 Report Share Posted November 16, 2013 perhaps their system isn't abused as much as ours is Completely agree Baz, and sadly governments of all colours seem to relish the idea of messing about with the NHS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davy51 Posted November 17, 2013 Report Share Posted November 17, 2013 I was reading an article in an ex pat newspaper in Spain last week where the Spanish health service was being praised to the heavens....not bad for a country otherwise on its uppers ! What has been said though about traffic problems should really be considered when relocating A & E facilities. Regarding Warrington ,it could really do with A&E either side of the river but away from its central location where traffic is always a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted November 17, 2013 Report Share Posted November 17, 2013 .. or perhaps fund the Air Ambulance Service, which currently relies on charity? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coffee Posted November 17, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2013 I was reading an article in an ex pat newspaper in Spain last week where the Spanish health service was being praised to the heavens....not bad for a country otherwise on its uppers ! What has been said though about traffic problems should really be considered when relocating A & E facilities. Regarding Warrington ,it could really do with A&E either side of the river but away from its central location where traffic is always a problem. In Spain all of the money that is raised through the national lottery goes into the health service. In Germany and ski areas of Austria and Italy they have local trauma centres where they then send people off to specialist hospitals after being stabilized .. or perhaps fund the Air Ambulance Service, which currently relies on charity? I give £10 a month for the Air Ambulance!!!! Which probably buys enough fuel to keep in it in the air for 30 seconds. I am not that convinced the Air Ambulance is being used properly. While we hear on TV how it can whiz a critically ill person to hospital in 2 minutes..... About a year ago I was on my way to the cinema when stopped because of a crash, the road was closed because they were expecting the air ambulance. It took 30 minutes to arrive and landed some distance off. The casualty was pulled out of the ambulance and transferred to the helicopter which took another 10 minutes. I read later that the casualty had suffered leg injuries!!!! Which hospitals are equipped to take the helicopter??? I watched it land in Chester once again in a field some distance from the hospital Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
observer Posted November 17, 2013 Report Share Posted November 17, 2013 Precisely, it obviously requires organising, if speed is of the essence (the golden hour etc); so all these specialist hubs need heli-pads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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