A rising number of end-of-life patients in hospitals could impact treatment levels this winter, as reported by regional NHS leaders in Sussex. During an online internal meeting, a palliative care consultant from University Hospitals Sussex NHS Trust highlighted the looming 'crisis' as hospital managers grapple with having to provide end-of-life care in A&E corridors. This alarming situation is expected to resonate across other NHS regions facing mounting winter pressures as they strive to secure hospital beds for sick patients in need of care.
University Hospitals Sussex Trust, including facilities like Worthing Hospital, Royal Sussex County Hospital, St Richard's Hospital in Chichester, and Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, is at the forefront of this challenge. Representatives from East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, overseeing Conquest Hospital in Hastings and Eastbourne District General Hospital, also participated in the meeting alongside community health officials. During her presentation titled 'Palliative and End of Life Care in Sussex', the consultant pointed out the struggles faced by local hospices in accommodating end-of-life patients and the uncertainty surrounding community support for those sent home.
She expressed serious concern: 'I am really worried that patients with treatable conditions might not receive the care they need due to the high occupancy of end-of-life patients in hospital beds.' Furthermore, she remarked that patients who are simply dying are no longer being prioritized for transfer listings, with focus shifting to those with complex needs. When commenting on the provision of enhanced palliative care in A&E, she noted the dilemma: 'It is a really difficult choice - do you admit them for corridor care, or turn them around, sending them home where they might die en route.'
The consultant highlighted the issue of many patients occupying hospital beds without needing to be there, while those with complex needs remain unmet. She concluded by stating, 'We've all known this crisis is coming - it is getting worse and worse.'