SARAH’S BLOG: My Concern about Worcestershire Royal Reports

The reports about winter pressures at Worcestershire Royal Hospital are very concerning. Patients shouldn’t be left waiting for hours in A&E or in ambulances outside, and staff shouldn’t be forced to provide care in overcrowded corridors.

My priority is making sure Worcester residents can access safe care as quickly as possible, and that our NHS staff have the support and capacity they need. In the short term, that means urgent action to improve flow through the whole system: better access to urgent care and GP appointments so people can get help earlier, and faster discharge pathways with adequate social care so hospital beds are available for emergency admissions.

Nationally, Liberal Democrats have been pressing for action to end corridor care and long 12-hour waits, alongside the GP Guarantee so people can see a GP within seven days (or within 24 hours if urgent) — because fixing A&E pressures requires both immediate measures and a plan to reduce avoidable demand.

Locally, Lib Dem councillors have also pushed practical steps to support frontline and community care. For example, Worcestershire County Council backed a Healthcare Worker Parking Permit scheme after a campaign and resident petition, aimed at helping community nurses and carers reach patients without risking fines. We’ve also raised the case for using County Hall capacity to help relieve pressure around the hospital site, and we’re open to looking at all viable options for longer-term capacity — including the County Hall site — but any proposal must be clinically led, properly funded and matched with workforce and community services.

Cllr Mel Allcott has also spoken publicly about her own family’s experience of ambulance and corridor waits, which underscores the real human impact behind these figures.