ROYAL HANTS HOSPITAL ON RED ALERT OVER BED OCCUPANCY

6.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 19th Jun 2008

Hampshire MP, Sandra Gidley has obtained figures from the Royal Hampshire County Hospital which show that it was placed on the highest level of crisis alert - 'red alert'* - for 63 of the 91 days (69% of the time) from the beginning of December last year to the beginning of March 2008.

The reasons for the red alerts ranged from a shortage of beds, staff and cubicles through to the volume of work in the accident and emergency department.

Commenting today from Westminster, Sandra, who is the Liberal Democrat Shadow Minister for Public Health said:

"This is an appalling state of affairs which must end. The people of Hampshire deserve a good quality of healthcare that they can rely upon, not a local health service that is living on the edge.

"Local NHS staff must be concerned that, rather than being the exception, a red alert is fast becoming the norm.

"The blame here has to lie with the government and not with the staff. The centrally imposed targets that are placed upon hospitals only further the pressures on doctors, nurses and paramedics who are not allowed to respond to the needs of local people and only allowed to respond to government dictates."

Sandra, who also sits on the influential Health Select Committee in parliament, supports the hospital's stated aim to reduce bed occupancy to 85%.

"All of the evidence shows that this is the optimum level required to give the best care" added Sandra. "Occupancy rates have been too high in the past as a result of government financial pressures and I am keen to work with the Trust to work towards this aim and resist any further government interference."

ENDS