Our CEO Julian Stanley joins radio discussion around hospitals in Cambridgeshire running permanently at over 90% bed occupancy
News - 18 September 2023
Our CEO Julian Stanley appeared on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire on Thursday 14 September 2023 to speak about issues around the three main general hospitals in Cambridgeshire that are permanently running at over 90% bed occupancy. There no longer appears to be any time in the year when our hospitals are less busy and there are no signs of this reducing anytime soon.
NHS figures analysed by BBC Radio Cambridgeshire show that almost all beds in our local hospitals have been occupied nonstop since the start of the pandemic. The data shows pre-covid around 70-75% of beds were constantly in use, but since the pandemic, almost 95% of local beds have always been full. Listen to what our CEO Julian Stanley had to say on the matter.
Hear what Julian had to say here (2:13:53 - 2:18:05):
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Sometimes you may feel unsure about a diagnosis, have questions about a treatment plan, or simply want reassurance before making a decision about your care. In these situations, you may consider asking for a second opinion.
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However, you are not legally entitled to a second opinion on the NHS.
Even so, most doctors and GPs will support your request.
✅ What is Martha’s Rule?
Martha’s Rule is a new national patient safety initiative being introduced across England. It gives patients, families and carers the power to request an urgent review if someone in hospital is getting worse and they are worried.
Martha’s Rule is named after 13-year-old Martha Mills, who died from sepsis in 2021. Her parents repeatedly raised concerns about her deteriorating condition, but these concerns were not acted on.
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Staff access: All NHS hospital staff must have 24/7 access to a critical care outreach team, who they can contact immediately if they are worried about a patient’s condition.
Family and patient access: Patients, their families, carers and advocates must also be able to contact the critical care outreach team directly, day or night. Information on how to do this should be clearly displayed in the hospital. They do not need to ask the current medical team first.
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