‘48 hours with sepsis in a fit-to-sit area’ – Helen Morgan shares A&E horror story

Helen Morgan has brought to light a harrowing account from a constituent left waiting 48 hours at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital while suffering with sepsis.

This illustrates the dire state of emergency healthcare in Shropshire, which is regularly measured as the worst performing in England on key NHS metrics.

In a speech to the House of Commons, Helen detailed the shocking experience of one of her constituents, Emma, who endured a two-day ordeal in a fit-to-sit area after being diagnosed with sepsis.

Emma was then left on a trolley in an X-ray corridor for 12 more hours, during which there was a distressing delay in receiving the critical medication needed for her life-threatening condition.

She was eventually assigned a bed on the Acute Medical Unit.

The MP demanded action from Secretary of State Wes Streeting, asking him to publish information that shows the impact delays at A&E are having on deaths in emergency departments.

Helen Morgan, Liberal Democrat MP for North Shropshire, told the House of Commons, “The pressure on our hospitals this winter brutally demonstrates the scale of action needed after years of Conservative neglect of the NHS. Across England, 71% of A&E patients were seen within four hours last month. But this statistic varies wildly depending on where you happen to live.

“At Shrewsbury and Telford Emergency Department last month, ambulances had to wait an average of over two hours to hand over their patients. Just 50% of patients were seen within four hours and nearly 1,500 patients were left stuck on a trolley for more than 12 hours. Now, statistics like this often fail to have much impact now because we've heard them so regularly, particularly since winter crises have become normalised. But it's very important that we consider who is behind them.

“Patients like my constituent Emma, who, having been diagnosed with sepsis, spent 48 hours in a fit to sit area and then 12 hours on a trolley in an X ray corridor before finally being admitted alongside a horrifying delay in the medication required to deal with her life threatening condition. Yet we often have to wait weeks for data that fully explains what's happening in our hospitals. And no official data is collected about the number of critical incidents. This leaves patients potentially ill informed and it makes scrutiny and support in this place in particular difficult to provide.

“So, will the Secretary of State commit to introducing faster and more detailed reporting about the live state of play in our emergency departments, including the number of critical incidences and the temporary escalation spaces, and give a timeline for reporting that information?

“Will the Minister publish information that shows the impact that delays are having, for example, by looking at the number of deaths in emergency departments? And would the Minister act on the long term Liberal Democrat request to publish localised data on ambulance delays so we can ensure support is provided in the areas like Shropshire, where it's most needed?”