New sub-acute and rehabilitation wards for Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin

Following the announcement from the Department of Health and Social Care: £250 million to boost NHS capacity with 900 new beds – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk), NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin have released the following statement:

Dr Nick White, Chief Medical Officer for NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, said:

“We are delighted to announce that we have received approval from NHS England to access the Additional Capacity Targeted Investment Fund to build two sub-acute and rehabilitation wards at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) across their two hospital sites. One at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital which will hold 32 beds, and the other at the Princess Royal Hospital, Telford which will hold 20 beds.

“The purpose of the wards will be to provide appropriate sub-acute capacity, that currently does not exist within the Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin system. Sub-acute care services are provided on an inpatient basis for those individuals who have already completed acute treatment, but still need rehabilitation therapy. This will help alleviate the pressure experienced in the acute hospitals which are seen particularly within the winter months.

“The aim of the new sub-acute and rehabilitation wards is to reduce ambulance handover delays; emergency department overcrowding; and facilitate a timely discharge, creating a seamless flow through acute and community care for people who cannot be supported safely in their own home, but do not need to remain in an acute hospital bed. It also means the impact on inpatient beds set aside for patients recovering from elective operations will be reduced, resulting in fewer delays for patients waiting for their operations due to winter pressures.

“The 52-bed inpatient facility will be delivered through a skills compliment of nursing, therapy, pharmacy and support staff with medical clinical oversight provided by consultant, junior doctors, and physicians associate, with rapid access to acute hospital facilities should a patient deteriorate.

“In preparation for the new sub-acute and rehabilitation wards, we are in the process of developing a recruitment strategy to plan and secure the range of staff we will need.”