Four NHS trusts in England declare critical incidents after ‘surge’ in A&E admissions | NHS
Four NHS hospital trusts in England have declared critical incidents after a “surge” in emergency admissions, driven largely by patients with flu, norovirus and respiratory viruses.
Three trusts in Surrey and one in Kent have sounded the alarm after an “increase in complex attendances in A&E departments”.
A critical incident, which is usually declared when A&E departments are not necessarily able to deliver all their services safely, is the highest alert level used by the NHS and allows bosses to take immediate action to create capacity.
NHS Surrey Heartlands said the situation at three hospital trusts – Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust and Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust – was “exacerbated by rising cases of flu and norovirus and an increase in staff illness”.
He adds that “the recent cold front has also had an impact on more fragile patients who need to be admitted to hospital.”
University of East Kent Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has declared a critical incident at Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (QEQM) Hospital due to “significant and increasing demand for hospital care”.
It said its hospitals were “experiencing exceptionally high demand, driven by a continued high admission rate and large numbers of patients suffering from winter illnesses and respiratory viruses.”
This has allowed its hospital beds to be at full capacity and, due to high emergency department attendance, “the capacity to admit additional patients requiring acute care is very limited.”
Dr Charlotte Canniff, Joint Chief Medical Officer for NHS Surrey Heartlands, said: “Due to extreme pressure, today Surrey Heartlands Hospitals and ICB have made the decision to move to a critical incident.
“Our teams continue to work exceptionally hard and we want to reassure patients and the public that despite the challenges encountered and some changes to non-urgent appointments, essential services remain fully open to anyone who needs them. If you need urgent medical help, please continue to come forward.
Sarah Hayes, of East Kent Hospitals, said: “Our teams work tirelessly under immense pressure to provide safe and compassionate care to every patient who walks through our doors.
“We are doing everything we can to increase emergency care capacity and would like to thank our staff, patients and the public for their continued support, understanding and patience during this difficult time.
“It is important that anyone who needs urgent medical help continues to come forward, using 999 for a life-threatening emergency and 111 for other urgent care. Anyone who is unsure where to go should call the NHS on 111 or visit 111.nhs.uk for advice.”
