Care Pathways

18.02.15

Royal Cornwall Hospitals declare trust-wide ‘black alert’

Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust has had to cancel operations and declare a black alert due to pressure on its services, in another sign that unprecedented demand on the NHS is continuing.

The trust, which covers St Michael's in Hayle, West Cornwall Hospital in Penzance and The Royal Cornwall in Treliske, said it was "extremely busy, with difficulties admitting and discharging patients".

At one point the trust said it had 70 patients taking up beds who could be discharged or transferred out of hospital if adequate care arrangements were available, however the number has now been reduced to five.

The trusts busiest period saw some patients having to stay on trolleys for up to eight hours. Eighteen operations were cancelled on Wednesday and some staff holiday has been suspended.

A spokesman for the trust confirmed to NHE that they are on black alert, also known as a significant incident, the highest level of alert. The trust expects it to last between 12 and 24 hours. The measure applies to the whole health and social care system in Cornwall.

A statement from the trust said: "Royal Cornwall Hospitals are extremely busy right now with difficulties admitting and discharging patients.

"To ensure that we can continue to provide high quality and safe care, the health and social care partners in Cornwall have declared a significant incident to respond to pressure on services.

"To help doctors and nurses focus on the sickest patients please only use the Emergency Department in Truro if you are in urgent need of care and attention. Alternative support and services are available by calling NHS 111."

Dr Iain Chorlton, governing body member at NHS Kernow, said: "The demand over this winter has increased significantly and we've all found it difficult to manage.

"Black alert allows us to focus resources to make sure patient safety isn't compromised."

West Cornwall MP and member of the Health Select Committee, Andrew George, believes the problems are only going to get worse.

He said: "We cannot carry on like this. The further west you go the more precarious the situation. There is no other A&E service that those in the far west can go to.

"When emergency services like this are closed, blue light ambulances cannot take patients to the north, west or south, there is only a very long and potentially life threatening journey to the East if the front doors at Treliske are shut.

"Years of cutting hospital beds, the revolving door of perpetually changing executive chiefs of the Trust and the burden of the massive legacy debt caused by underfunding have left our only acute Trust in this position.

"With too few hospital beds and not enough nurses on the wards, what we see happening today will happen again and again unless someone gets a grip."

(Image source: Paul Armiger/PA)

Tell us what you think – have your say below or email [email protected]

Comments

There are no comments. Why not be the first?

Add your comment

national health executive tv

more videos >

latest healthcare news

NHS England commits £30m to join up HR and staff rostering systems

09/09/2020NHS England commits £30m to join up HR and staff rostering systems

As NHS England looks to support new ways of working, it has launched a £30m contract tender for HR and staff rostering systems, seeking sup... more >
Gender equality in NHS leadership requires further progress

09/09/2020Gender equality in NHS leadership requires further progress

New research carried out by the University of Exeter, on behalf of NHS Confederation, has shown that more progress is still needed to achieve gen... more >
NHS Trust set for big savings in shift to digital patient letters

09/09/2020NHS Trust set for big savings in shift to digital patient letters

Up and down the country, NHS trusts are finding new and innovative ways to leverage the power of digital technologies. In Bradford, paper appoint... more >

editor's comment

26/06/2020Adapting and Innovating

Matt Roberts, National Health Executive Editorial Lead. NHE May/June 2020 Edition We’ve been through so much as a health sector and a society in recent months with coronavirus and nothing can take away from the loss and difficulties that we’ve faced but it vital we also don’t disregard the amazing efforts we’v... read more >

last word

Haseeb Ahmad: ‘We all have a role to play in getting innovations quicker’

Haseeb Ahmad: ‘We all have a role to play in getting innovations quicker’

Haseeb Ahmad, president of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), sits down with National Health Executive as part of our Last Word Q&A series. Would you talk us th... more > more last word articles >

the scalpel's daily blog

Covid-19 can signal a new deal with the public on health

28/08/2020Covid-19 can signal a new deal with the public on health

Danny Mortimer, Chief Executive, NHS Employers & Deputy Chief Executive, NHS Confederation The common enemy of coronavirus united the public side by side with the NHS in a way that many had not seen in their lifetimes and for others evoked war-time memories. It was an image of defiance personified by the unforgettable N... more >
read more blog posts from 'the scalpel' >

comment

NHS England dementia director prescribes rugby for mental health and dementia patients

23/09/2019NHS England dementia director prescribes rugby for mental health and dementia patients

Reason to celebrate as NHS says watching rugby can be good for your mental health and wellbeing. As the best rugby players in the world repr... more >
Peter Kyle MP: It’s time to say thank you this Public Service Day

21/06/2019Peter Kyle MP: It’s time to say thank you this Public Service Day

Taking time to say thank you is one of the hidden pillars of a society. Being on the receiving end of some “thanks” can make communit... more >
Nurses named as least-appreciated public sector workers

13/06/2019Nurses named as least-appreciated public sector workers

Nurses have been named as the most under-appreciated public sector professionals as new research reveals how shockingly under-vauled our NHS, edu... more >
Creating the Cardigan integrated care centre

10/06/2019Creating the Cardigan integrated care centre

Peter Skitt, county director and commissioner for Ceredigion Hywel Dda University Health Board, looks ahead to the new integrated care centre bei... more >

interviews

Matt Hancock says GP recruitment is on the rise to support ‘bedrock of the NHS’

24/10/2019Matt Hancock says GP recruitment is on the rise to support ‘bedrock of the NHS’

Today, speaking at the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) annual conference, Matt Hancock highlighted what he believes to be the three... more >
NHS dreams come true for Teesside domestic

17/09/2019NHS dreams come true for Teesside domestic

Over 20 years ago, a Teesside hospital cleaner put down her mop and took steps towards her midwifery dreams. Lisa Payne has been delivering ... more >
How can winter pressures be dealt with? Introduce a National Social Care Service, RCP president suggests

24/10/2018How can winter pressures be dealt with? Introduce a National Social Care Service, RCP president suggests

A dedicated national social care service could be a potential solution to surging demand burdening acute health providers over the winter months,... more >
RCP president on new Liverpool college building: ‘This will be a hub for clinicians in the north’

24/10/2018RCP president on new Liverpool college building: ‘This will be a hub for clinicians in the north’

The president of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has told NHE that the college’s new headquarters based in Liverpool will become a hu... more >

health service focus

View all News