Neurology referrals in Shropshire closed for another six months

In March health bosses said the neurology service in Shropshire would be temporarily unable to accept new referrals for six months to clear the backlog.

This date has now been extended for another six months due to a shortage of neurologist.

Despite the various recruitment drives, the trust has so far been unable to secure additional full-time consultants.

To help meet the current demand for referrals, Shropshire and Telford Clinical Commissioning Groups commissioned The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust to provide this service for new patients on an interim basis.

Simon Wright, chief executive at SaTH, said: "Nationally there is a shortage of neurologist and when they are qualified almost without exception they want to work in big specialist centres like in Stoke or Manchester. So unfortunately we cannot attract those neurologists to work here.

"We have enhanced our specialist services and are looking to make sure the patients diagnosed in Wolverhampton can have all their follow-up treatment here.

"The key thing for us is to get a 'hub and spoke' model which will see a specialist coming into our hospitals from places such as the Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery in Liverpool or the specialist centre in Stoke and provide high quality care and support staff.

"However for the moment the service will remain closed for new referrals due to a shortage of neurologist.

"We have appointed an additional locum neurologist but for anyone who has a long-term condition it is very important they have consistency of care.

"The first six months has allowed us to sort out the nursing provision - and the next six months will allow us to secure the consultants. We will then have a robust model and a proper permanent solution."

The workforce limitations at SaTH led to patients waiting on average 30 weeks for a first out-patient appointment at the start of 2017.

There is now a list size of 34 patients, compared to 183 at the end of May 2017.