Amid “severe and sustained pressure” on its services, another hospital trust has declared a critical incident this week.
Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) Trust cited high demand, winter infections, and staff sickness since the Christmas period as reasons for “significant and unacceptable delays” in its emergency department and hospital wards. The trust has urged the public to use A&E “in an emergency or serious accident” only.
This development follows four NHS hospital trusts in South East England – three in Surrey and one in Kent – declaring critical incidents on Monday due to a surge in complex admissions to A&E departments.
NHS Surrey Heartlands mentioned that the situation at Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, and Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust was worsened by increases in flu and norovirus cases, along with a rise in staff sickness.
Additionally, East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust declared a critical incident due to “significant and rising demand for hospital care” at Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital.
Andrew Hall, the chief operating officer of the NUH trust, expressed concerns about the unprecedented pressures, emphasizing the necessity of declaring a Critical Incident to safeguard patient safety. He apologized for any inconvenience caused and requested kindness towards the staff during this challenging period.
Dr. Charlotte Canniff, Joint Chief Medical Officer of NHS Surrey Heartlands, advised the public to use NHS services appropriately, reserving A&E for emergencies. She stressed the importance of timely discharges to free up hospital capacity for patients in need of treatment.
Despite the challenges faced, essential services remain fully operational for those requiring urgent medical assistance, as hospital trusts in Birmingham, Staffordshire, and parts of Wales reported increased pressure from a surge in norovirus cases last week.
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