Bed and staff boost for hospital

Doncaster and Bassetlaw NHS Foundation Trust chief executive Mike Pinkerton said 11 additional beds will be created at Bassetlaw Hospital by the winter, as well as 48 in Doncaster and 10 in Montaigu hospitals.

The trust has also embarked on a recruitment drive for nurses to meet the extra demand for patient care.

In a briefing with the Guardian last week, Mr Pinkerton said the plans, which were officially agreed last week, were ‘exciting’ and would significantly improve patient care in Bassetlaw.

“You read of many trusts cutting beds and jobs - we are doing the opposite. We are trying to put patients and quality first,” he said.

“We truly believe that if you get the quality right, the finance we invest in that will follow.”

He added: “It will improve the quality of outcomes for patients and support staff better to do their jobs in terms of providing excellent care.”

“We also expect it will reduce waiting times in A&E as well as having a positive impact on control and infection, such as C.Difficile.”

Mr Pinkerton said the extra beds will be partly created by opening wards normally closed during the summer months.

“We will also be removing the current trust headquarters in Doncaster from its current position to create more space for an additional ward.”