Region predicts it needs 1,000 more beds to meet winter demand

West Midlands Ambulance Service Foundation Trust published a letter to its local commissioner among its July board papers. The letter said: “Following the regional meeting on 12 June 2020 chaired by Jeff Worrall [director of performance and improvement for the NHSE/I Midlands], it was made clear that there was a need for an additional 1,000 acute hospital beds across the West Midlands to meet the demand over the winter period.”

It is understood the 1,000 beds referred to in the letter would be in addition to the capacity at the unused Birmingham Nightingale Hospital run by University Hospitals of Birmingham FT. WMAS said it would need £4.5m in funding over three months to support increased activity driven by the additional beds.

However, it is unclear whether NHS England supports the creation of the extra beds, or the extent to which it is practically possible.

In a statement, the regional directorate said: “NHS England and Improvement is working closely with all healthcare partners in the region to plan for winter, including a range of different scenarios, and final plans will be agreed in due course.”

There are major concerns in some regions that increased infection control measures due to covid-19 will significantly reduce the available bed capacity. HSJ understands another region has modelled this at 10 per cent. Increasing bed numbers elsewhere in the system could therefore be aimed at offsetting some of this lost capacity.

In a separate letter, WMAS also told commissioners it will need £2m per month in additional funding to support the new “call before you walk” plans for emergency departments.

Under these plans, patients will have to call 111 as the first option before attending an emergency department, with 111 services then triaging patients to the appropriate service. WMAS runs 111 services in most of the patch.

Other regions including the North West have been looking at the potential for a mass expansion of community rehabilitation beds, but these plans have now been scrapped due to a lack of capital funding.

This story was updated at 9:55 to reflect Jeoff Worrall’s correct job title.