06.01.15
Surge in hospitals declaring major incidents
Even more hospitals have joined the ranks of those declaring major or significant incidents as they struggle to cope with unprecedented demand on their services.
Earlier today official figures from NHS England showed that hospital A&E departments reported their worst ever performance results for waiting time targets and the increase in major incidents provides further evidence that the NHS in England is on the brink of crisis.
NHE reported yesterday that Gloucester Royal Hospital and Cheltenham General Hospital both declared their second major incident in three weeks, and last night Scarborough Hospital also declared one while Ashford and St Peter’s hospitals are cancelling operations and outpatient appointments to cope with emergency patients.
Today it has emerged that seven further hospitals have declared major or significant incidents – with several trusts facing the same pressures and taking the same action but avoiding using the official term.
Peterborough City hospital trust said it had cancelled eight operations today (Tuesday), after cancelling nine on Monday, in order to prioritise emergency care, it has now also declared an “internal major incident”. Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals trust, which termed its incident “significant”, has posted a message on its website urging people to stay away from A&E unless they require emergency treatment. The trust said that the Princess Royal Brighton and the Royal Sussex had also cancelled some appointments, clinics and operations.
Norwich and Norfolk hospital revealed that it had reinstated an “internal major incident” and was discharging patients able to go home immediately to increase capacity to meet demand.
Walsall Manor Hospital also declared a major incident on Monday which is still ongoing and have cancelled planned operations and clinics to make staff available to help with emergency admissions.
Both the Royal Stoke University Hospital and Stafford's County Hospital are affected by "unprecedented" levels of patient demand, which has seen operations cancelled and both hospitals declare major incidents.
It has also been reported that Royal Stoke shut the doors of it A&E department for about 30 minutes on Monday.
Meanwhile the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn, has been on “black alert”, the step below a “major incident”, since the weekend and Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust declared a “business continuity incident” on Monday and said consultants were asked to review patients to see if they could be discharged to free up beds.
Other hospitals facing pressures that have yet to declare a major incident include the Isle of Wight NHS Trust which cancelled some planned operations on Monday and said ambulances were queuing because of a lack of beds. Hereford hospital has cancelled routine operations, while non-essential surgery has also been cancelled this week at the Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which has had two significant incidents since 1 December 2014. In Scotland NHS Grampian, which is responsible for five hospitals, said that it was postponing some elective services.
A Department of Health spokesperson said: “We know the NHS is busier than ever before, which is why we've given the NHS a record £700m this winter for more doctors, nurses and beds. The NHS has ensured there are plans in every area to manage the extra demand.”
(Image credit: Rui Vieira/PA Wire)
Tell us what you think – have your say below or email [email protected]