Critical incident declared for NHS in Northamptonshire amid 'one of the most challenging winters'
Two of Northamptonshire's hospitals have declared critical incidents as the NHS faces "significant patient demand", as ITV News Anglia's Rosie Dowsing reports.
A critical incident has been declared as a county's NHS says it is experiencing "one of the most challenging winters".
The NHS in Northamptonshire sounded the alarm on Wednesday due to a combination of “significant patient demand, pressure within local hospitals and flooding” across the region.
On Monday evening, East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EMAS) also declared the first critical incident in its history, though this was stood down on Wednesday morning following the "incredible hard work" of staff and volunteers.
EMAS deputy chief executive Will Legge said: “The immediate actions that hospitals, partner agencies, and integrated care systems took, and the incredible hard work of our staff and volunteers, means that the number of patients awaiting an ambulance response has significantly reduced.
“Although we have stood down the Critical Incident status, we remain at Level 4 - the highest level - of the Resource Escalation Action Plan (REAP)."
Critical incidents can be declared when health and care services are so busy that special measures are needed to restore normal operations and keep patients safe.
The trusts' critical incidents are mostly from pressure at Northampton General Hospital and Kettering General Hospital, and come as trusts across the country face similar pressure.
Non-urgent patients have been warned they will face long waits in A&E and have been urged to “consider other options”, such as contacting their GP, visiting a pharmacy or calling NHS 111.
Around 5,000 hospital beds in England are occupied with patients with flu and last week, NHS data revealed the number of people in hospital with flu in England was more than four times the level it was a month ago.
Dr Naomi Caldwell, deputy chief medical officer, NHS Northamptonshire ICB said: “This has been one of the most challenging winters we have ever experienced in the NHS, and we have taken this step today to ensure we can continue to deliver a safe level of care to our local population, while we work together to resolve it.
“We are today asking local people to help us by choosing which service to access when they are unwell, and only calling 999 or attending A&E if it is a life-threatening emergency."
A spokesperson added the trust was working to de-escalate the situation "as quickly as possible".
The trust said the critical incident would allow additional beds to be opened and gain the support of partners to cope with the pressures.
People are being urged to think carefully before attending Accident and Emergency or calling 999, but to attend planned appointments and operations unless notified otherwise.
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