Another hospital trust has announced a critical incident this week due to the “severe and sustained pressure” on its services. Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) Trust cited high demand since the Christmas period, along with winter infections and staff sickness, leading to significant delays in its emergency department and hospital wards. The trust is urging the public to only seek A&E services in cases of emergency or serious accidents.
This declaration 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 their A&E departments. NHS Surrey Heartlands highlighted 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 exacerbated by increases in flu and norovirus cases, as well as a rise in staff sickness.
Additionally, East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust also declared a critical incident due to a notable increase in demand for hospital care at Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital.
Andrew Hall, the chief operating officer of NUH Trust, expressed concerns about the unprecedented pressures faced by the hospitals. He emphasized the necessity of declaring a Critical Incident to safeguard patient safety, acknowledging the challenges and asking for understanding from the public towards the dedicated staff working tirelessly to maintain the expected level of care.
Dr. Charlotte Canniff, Joint Chief Medical Officer of NHS Surrey Heartlands, reiterated the importance of using NHS services appropriately, especially urging the public to reserve A&E visits for emergencies only. She emphasized the need for prompt and safe discharge of patients to free up hospital capacity for those requiring treatment, ensuring that emergency departments can prioritize those in urgent need of care.
Despite the challenges and adjustments to non-urgent appointments, essential services remain fully operational for anyone in need of urgent medical assistance. Last week, hospital trusts in Birmingham, Staffordshire, and parts of Wales also reported facing sustained pressure due to a surge in norovirus cases.