CASUALTY chiefs at the new Royal Bolton Hospital have defended their record on waiting lists.

Consultants John Adams and Dr Chris Moulton and their A and E colleagues, senior nurse Karen Castille and clerical co-ordinator Barbara Lindley, appealed for an urgent cash injection from Wigan and Bolton Health Authority.

In a joint statement, the casualty team said: "It is true that waiting times sometimes climb to unacceptable levels but, hard as it may be to believe, in Bolton we have an A and E department with some of the lowest waiting times in the North West and a reputation for obsessive efforts to reduce delays for patients."

They said that Bolton Hospitals Trust management had appointed as many extra doctors and nurses at the Royal Bolton Hospital as funding would allow.

The statement added: "As one of only five university departments of accident and emergency medicine in the UK, we are known for innovation and the development of a patient-centred service.

"We have detailed plans to run a fast-track minor injuries service but this is impossible in a department which is already under-staffed."

Mr Adams and Dr Moulton say hospital management has consistently pressed the health authority for extra funding.

But they added: "Wigan and Bolton Health Authority currently allocate less money to the A and E service in Bolton than almost any other purchaser in the North West gives its local service."

In an Audit Commission report this year, Bolton was ranked the seventh cheapest casualty department in the country.

During Bolton Council's health service liaison meeting earlier this week, health authority chief executive Mike Ruane said: "We need a lot more information before we start issuing blank cheques for more resources."

But the consultants claim they have supplied "overwhelming evidence" for the need for more staff during the last two years.

They added: "We have plans for a comprehensive emergency service for Bolton of unequalled excellence, but without the financial support of the purchasing organisation the only improvements we have been able to make are those which do not cost any money.

"The staff of the A and E department were upset by the dissatisfaction expressed, especially as they suffer every day from the problems caused by chronic under-funding.

"Perhaps the councillors who feel that the service needs to be improved will make their views known to the people with the power to remedy the situation."

Following the public statement, Mr Ruane has renewed his stance.

He said: "The new A and E department has only recently opened so it will take time to gather and assess detailed information before we can make an informed decision.

"We do take the funding of A and E very seriously, but I must stress that Bolton Trust officials have not sent a formal letter stating the case for extra funding in A and E."

He added: "If the case is made, money will have to be re-directed from another hospital department. There is no more money available this year."

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