Llan man highlights hospital's problems

A Llangollen man has highlighted the serious problems currently being faced by Wrexham Maelor Hospital due to increased demand on its services.

In an email to hospital chiefs, Martin Crumpton, who has previously campaigned to keep open the town’s cottage hospital, said of his own experiences yesterday (Monday): “Today at A&E at Wrexham Maelor at 13:25, en route to a routine outpatients appointment, me and an ambulance crewman counted 12 ambulances and two ambulance cars queued – a new record he believed.

“Returning home, and at 14:45 we counted 15 ambulances and one ambulance car. The crew member had been asked to do three hours overtime this evening to help get patients sent home early as the hospital was desperate to find beds.

“This unacceptable. Please put patients first and reopen Llangollen and other cottage hospitals immediately. You must already know the temporary extra 30 beds at the Maelor won’t be enough, so do the right thing.”

Mr Crumpton received a reply from Professor Matt Makin (pictured), medical director of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which says: “It was a very difficult day today at the Maelor.

 

“I spent today in the Emergency Department and on the wards and our staff are working very hard to keep patients safe in exceptional circumstances.

“We have opened new beds today (Monday) and are taking a number of steps to ensure patients get the right treatment, do not have unnecessarily prolonged stays in hospital, and are supported on discharge.

 “I must pay tribute to the doctors, nurses and paramedics who I saw giving 100% today. I agree it is extremely worrying to see ambulances delayed outside hospital and I assure you I take this very seriously.”