MP in hospital fact-finding mission

ON a mission . . . Debbie Abrahams

DEBBIE Abrahams paid a visit to the Royal Oldham Hospital to see how A&E staff are coping with the extra pressure of the winter.

The Oldham East and Saddleworth MP said: “The cumulative actions of the Government have meant that across the country the NHS is struggling to deal with the A&E crisis.

“The increase in A&E waiting times has been caused by cuts to social care budgets, meaning more older people are ending up in hospital because there is no one else to take care of them.

“There have also been 6,642 nursing jobs cut and a needless £3 billion top-down reorganisation which have made the situation in A&E much worse.

“After my visit I gained a good insight into how front-line staff are coping with the winter pressures currently facing them. I pay tribute to the staff at the Royal Oldham Hospital who are doing a hard job in very difficult circumstances.

“During my visit I saw the whole patient experience, from reception through to the discharge suite and spoke with a variety of staff members about the plans they have in place to deal with excess winter pressures.

“With Pennine Acute Trust missing its A&E target in 30 out of the last 52 weeks, it is clear patients and hospitals in the area are paying the price for David Cameron’s mismanagement of the NHS.”