MP says Treliske 'critical incident' shows need for second major hospital in Cornwall
North Cornwall's Scott Mann is among those speaking out as the site in Truro faces extreme pressure
Last updated 23rd Oct 2021
A Cornish MP has said that the current critical incident at Royal Cornwall Hospital has shown the need for a second major hospital in the Duchy.
Scott Mann, Conservative MP for North Cornwall, issued a statement after RCHT declared a critical incident amid reports of ambulances queueing outside the hospital in Treliske and people having to wait hours to be seen.
Mr Mann said that he believed the best way to ease pressure on health services in Cornwall would be to expand services in Bodmin.
He said: "I am aware that there is huge pressure at RCHT and that the hospital has announced ‘OPEL4’ or what we previously called Black Alert.
"From the briefings I have been given by the NHS Trust, pressure will always be most visible at the Emergency Department where ambulances are waiting, and their priority here is to move people into wards as soon as they can. The figures RCHT provided show that last night there were over 100 people in the emergency department which is beyond the capacity it normally operates at.
"The best way to alleviate pressure on Treliske is to expand provision in Bodmin. These plans must now be brought forward at pace.
"Cornwall clearly has the need for two primary care hubs. Expansion of Bodmin is the fastest and most cost-effective way to achieve this".
His comments come after Truro and Falmouth MP Cherilyn Mackrory raised her concerns about the current pressure on health services in Cornwall and said she would be writing urgently to Secretary of State Sajid Javid to ask for more support.
Writing on her Facebook page she said: "I am acutely aware of the current situation at Royal Cornwall Hospital.
"There is clearly a huge demand on the hospital at the moment, particularly the emergency department, and I am grateful for those working at the hospital in their efforts to see every patient as soon as they possibly can.
"I work closely with the management team at RCHT, and even more so in times like these. Whatever the hospital needs to alleviate this pressure, I will do to try and help them.
"I have written to the Health Secretary raising this situation with him as a matter of urgency, asking for any additional support to help ease the pressure on Treliske.
"The health of those living in Cornwall is the number one priority for me and this Government, so we must do all that we can to support the hospital through difficult times like these".
Some people in Cornwall took to social media to question Mr Javid’s claims earlier this week that the NHS was currently under “sustainable pressure”.
They highlighted the critical incident status at RCHT and said that the health service in Cornwall is at “breaking point".
On Friday, Royal Cornwall Hospital's Medical Director, Allister Grant, said they are appealing for staff to work extra hours and many had already answered that plea for help.
He praised the team at Treliske for their resilience and commitment to going the extra mile to provide safe and timely patient care.