Worcester Liberal Democrats are challenging all county council candidates to join them in a campaign to improve social care services across the county.
Mel Allcott, Liberal Democrat Candidate in Claines said “Waiting times in Worcestershire hospital A&E departments are a scandal for which national government and the Tory-led County Council share responsibility.
“The record is shocking. The NHS standard is for all patients attending A&E Departments to be seen within 4 hours. In March 2025 that standard was met for 61% of patients nationwide and 53% of patients attending the Worcestershire hospitals.
“In other words if you attend a Worcestershire A&E department there is a roughly 50% chance that your care will need meet NHS standards
Stephen Dorrell – Liberal Democrat candidate in Bedwardine and previously Health Secretary and Chair of the NHS Confederation – said “This failure is the result of a decade of Tory mismanagement of the NHS, but it is also the result of under investment in social care and community services by the county council. When social care fails, the result is felt in NHS emergency services.
‘According to a recent Worcester News article as of the latest available data, approximately 53% of medically fit patients at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust remain in hospital due to delays in arranging social care support. This equates to 117 out of 221 patients who are ready for discharge but cannot leave because appropriate care packages or placements are not yet in place.’
“This is the biggest challenge facing the new County Council. It is important to all the people who rely on social care services, but it is also essential for all of us who rely on NHS emergency services. The NHS cannot meet its own standards for emergency care until national and local government address the challenges in social care”.
