Health Secretary 'ashamed' after multiple hospitals declare critical incidents due to high demand
The NHS has been facing increased pressure in recent weeks after the number of patients in hospital with flu quadrupled, ITV News North of England Correspondent Rachel Townsend reports from a hopsital in Liverpool where some patients have had to wait up to 50 hours for a bed.
The Health Secretary has said he feels "ashamed" after multiple NHS trusts across England declared critical incidents and admitted patients were being taken to hospitals "to die" because the right care was not available.
Several hospital trusts in England declared critical incidents on Tuesday after experiencing exceptionally high demand and sustained pressure, particularly on their emergency departments, bringing the total number of hospitals saying they are not able to cope to eleven.
One hospital has confirmed that some patients have had to wait up to 50 hours for a bed.
Wes Streeting said that he felt “emotional” hearing about long waits and patients being passed from ambulance to ambulance. Speaking on LBC Radio, he said flu was causing "extraordinary pressure" in hospitals.
University Hospitals Birmingham was the latest to declare a critical incident, following The Royal Liverpool Hospital, Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, and Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
East Sussex Hospitals Trust announced it is temporarily limiting visiting to one visitor per patient per day to reduce the impact of flu.
A critical incident is declared when the level of disruption means hospitals are unable to deliver critical services and may not be able to operate safely.
The NHS has been facing increased pressure in recent weeks after the number of patients in hospital with flu has quadrupled in the last month.
All hospitals have said high levels of flu and respiratory illnesses were contributing to the high levels of pressure they were facing.
The Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said the Basingstoke and Winchester hospitals were full and attendance at their emergency departments is "extremely high."
As a result, there "is currently no capacity to admit further patients needing our care."
The Derriford Hospital said more than 300 people attended the hospital needing emergency treatment on Monday, while the Royal Liverpool Hospital said they were facing "exceptionally high demand" in its emergency departments.
The hospitals are advising patients to consider using other services if they are not facing a medical emergency, such as GPs, local pharmacies or walk-in centres.
University Hospitals Birmingham
The Birmingham NHS Trust has declared a critical incident across all four of its hospitals: Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Solihull Hospital, Good Hope Hospital, and Heartlands Hospital.
According to the trust's website, current waiting times at Good Hope Hospital's Emergency Department are up to seven and a half hours, four hours at Heartlands, three hours at Queen Elizabeth, and two hours at Solihull.
Royal Liverpool Hospital
In a statement on X, the NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group said: "Due to high demand on our Emergency Departments, we have declared a critical incident at our Royal Liverpool University Hospital site."
The hospital has also said the number of patients being admitted to hospital wards in recent weeks, particularly with the flu, norovirus and respiratory illnesses, is also putting pressure on its services.
In response to the situation, an NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group spokesperson, said: “Given the exceptionally high demands on our Emergency Department, especially with flu and respiratory illnesses, and the number of patients, we have taken this action to support the safe care and treatment of our patients, which is our absolute priority."
The hospital says it has a "comprehensive plan in place" and it is taking the necessary steps to manage the situation affecting its staff and patients.
Derriford Hospital
At Derriford Hospital, more than 300 people attended the hospital needing emergency treatment on Monday, almost 200 of whom were admitted as inpatients.
People accompanying patients have been asked not to enter the emergency department unless absolutely necessary.
The trust said it is seeing high numbers of older patients with respiratory problems exacerbated by the cold weather.
Darryn Allcorn, the trust's chief nurse, said: “It’s really important we make sure that the sickest patients are prioritised and that we keep our services flowing for those who are in greatest need.
"Therefore, we ask that at this time unless you are a carer or if the patient who is coming to the hospital is particularly distressed, that those who accompany patients do not to come into the emergency department. We need the seating spaces for patients to sit down and be comfortable."
Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
The Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust announced a critical incident had been declared because of "sustained pressure" at the Basingstoke and Winchester hospitals.
Julie Dawes, chief nurse for Hampshire Hospitals, said: "This morning, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust declared a critical incident due to sustained pressures at our Basingstoke and Winchester hospitals.
"These include a high admission rate, a high number of infectious patients requiring isolation, and a low discharge rate.
"This decision has not been taken lightly; however, beds across both hospitals are full and attendance at our emergency departments is extremely high, which means there is currently no capacity to admit further patients needing our care."
As part of the response, the Trust said they are "seeking support from across the health system to discharge patients who no longer require acute care and limit the number that need to come to the acute hospital."
Elsewhere, a critical incident was declared by NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly on Friday, continues.
While East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust declared a critical incident on Monday evening after flooding in the region.
On Tuesday, South West Ambulance Service has posted on X saying: "We know there are patients waiting for an ambulance, and we will get to them as soon as we can."
Also, many trusts posted on X to warn that their emergency departments were very busy, including:
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Croydon Health Services NHS Trust
Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust
Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust
Speaking to ITV News about the crisis, Dr Layla McCay, director of policy at NHS Confederation, said:
“As we know, the NHS is always running hot, which means it is running at pretty near capacity. So whenever you have something that increases the demand, that can tip you over the capacity, that's what we see every winter. And what is happening this winter is we're seeing this really significant surge in flu, which means that a lot more people are having to go into the hospital now.”
She said that the ongoing issues of NHS funding, staffing levels and social care capacity meant hospitals face a crisis every winter.
"All of these things need to be brought together, which is why the government is currently working on the 10-year health plan, which will be coming out later this year," she said.
"And what that aims to do is to look at the many, many challenges the NHS is facing, recognising the tight financial situation that we're in as a country and thinking, how can we solve some of these challenges, make sure that every winter this is not the sort of narrative that we have to hear.”
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