The hospitals with the greatest bed occupancy rates in the Midlands

A number of hospital trusts in Birmingham and the region are stretched this winter
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

England’s hospitals are dangerously busy, trust leaders have warned this Christmas.

Many hospitals are nearing breaking point, with two trusts running out of beds entirely last week - including one in the Midlands, figures show.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

NHS Providers, which represents hospital trusts, has warned this Christmas will be one of the “darkest to date” for the health system.

According to the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, hospitals are considered to be too busy if more than 85% of their available general and acute beds are occupied by patients. After this, patient care is thought to be compromised.

Health bosses are expecting an influx of patients after recent industrial action by nurses, ambulance workers and paramedics may have led some to delay care. But last week’s figures show occupancy rates were already high, at an average of 94.4% across England last week, leaving just 5,569 beds remaining each day on average across all NHS acute trusts.

Nine in 10 acute hospitals had more than 85% of their beds filled in the week ending December 18. According to the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, hospitals are considered to be too busy if more than 85% of their available general and acute beds are occupied by patients. After this, patient care is thought to be compromised.

Hospitals are stretched to limitsHospitals are stretched to limits
Hospitals are stretched to limits

What do the figures show for hospitals in Birmingham and the Midlands?

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

From 12 to 18 December, in the Midlands, the George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust in Nuneaton was the busiest trust in the Midlands and second busiest in the country, with the hopsital completely running out of beds during that week.

The Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust was the second busiest in the Midlands during that week, with 98.4% of beds occupied and just 9 beds available.

The University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust had 20 beds available during the week 12 to 18 December.

Birmingham

At the Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, there were just 13 beds available during the week 12 to 18 December, with 98% of the hospitals beds used up (the fourth worst rate in the midlands).

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

At University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, 96.7% of the hospitals beds were used up with 82 available during the week. This was the 7th worst rate in the midlands.

And at Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust, 90% of the beds were occupied from 12 to 18 December, with 27 beds available. This was the 21st worst rate in the midlands.

What’s been said about the figures?

Saffron Cordery, interim chief executive at NHS Providers, said a surge in flu cases had “impacted bed occupancy, which continues to be above levels considered safe”.

More patients were also staying longer in hospital because of more severe illness and delayed discharges, putting a massive strain on the entire health and care system, she said.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She said: "Trust leaders are expecting this Christmas to be one of their darkest to date. As they work hard to mitigate the impact of ongoing strike action, they are also having to contend with an incredibly long list of other serious challenges.”

Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said: “The NHS has prepared for winter extensively with more beds, extra call handlers as well as the expansion of falls response services, control centres and respiratory hubs, but with flu hospitalisations and Covid cases on the rise, the best things you can do to protect yourself is to get vaccinated if you’re eligible.”

Related topics:

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.