HEALTH bosses at Stafford Hospital said a decision not to reopen the town’s A&E would not see them deviate from their focus on providing safe and sustainable care, now and in the future.
Responding to today’s decision by the Mid Staffordshire Commissioning Board, Chief Executive of Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, Lyn Hill Tout, said the trust would continue to work with commissioners to deliver 24/7 local services for the community.
“It is obviously the Commissioners’ responsibility to decide which services they want us to provide and the Trust’s responsibility to provide those services to a high standard,” she said. “The staff at Mid Staffs have worked incredibly hard to meet the reopening criteria and we have delivered on this promise.”
She said the hospital would not reopen A&E against the commissioner’s wishes, but would work with them to provide alternatives for those patients who could be treated locally.
“Of the average 12-15 patients each night who currently go elsewhere, we will be looking at ways in which they could be treated at Stafford, although clearly some may still need to travel,” she said. “As always, our main focus will be on providing safe and sustainable services now and in future.”
