Shropshire's A&E stats showing improvement
More than seven in 10 patients were seen within four hours in Shropshire's A&E departments last week, health commissioners have been told.
Dr Julie Davies, director of performance and delivery for Shropshire clinical commissioning group, told a meeting of the CCG board yesterday that the situation was improving.
She said about 75 per cent of patients had been seen within the four-hour government target last week.
It is a rise from 66 per cent in January, which put Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) at the bottom in the country for its A&E waiting times.
But Dr Davies added: "It remains considerable cause for concern."
She said the issue of workforce also remained a big challenge, not only in the emergency departments but for junior doctors also.
Health commissioners are now asking for assurances over SaTH's contingency plan which could see the emergency department at Princess Royal Hospital close between the hours of 8pm to 8am for up to two weeks.
The trust, which runs PRH and Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, is having to consider the measure after a consultant resigned.
Health commissioners say they want to ensure the plan is safe and are writing to the trust over their concerns.
Hospital bosses say they are doing all they can to avoid taking this measure.
The trust says it is looking at how to secure enough staff on its rota and has sought help from neighbouring health trusts.
Simon Wright, chief executive of SaTH, previously said it was in the trust's interests to keep the accident and emergency department open, but added that it must be safe.
SaTH has struggled to recruit doctors for its A&E departments, with health chiefs citing it as one of the main reasons for its desire to create one emergency centre at Shrewsbury as part of the Future Fit health review.
Earlier this week David Evans, chief officer for Telford & Wrekin CCG, told a meeting of the Telford & Wrekin CCG board that being the worst in the country for A&E waiting times is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
If SaTH chooses to put its contingency plan into force, night staff from PRH would be relocated to RSH.
The consultant who has resigned is due to leave the trust in the next few weeks.
