University Hospital in Coventry issues urgent plea to patients

General view of University Hospital, Coventry Credit: Joe Giddens / PA Archive/PA Images

University Hospital in Coventry is issuing an urgent plea to patients with minor illnesses to consider alternatives to attending hospital.

The hospital is exceptionally busy with patients experiencing unprecedented waits in the Emergency Department.

The public are now being asked to consider alternatives rather than attend A&E.

If people need medical help fast but it’s not life threatening or they’re not sure where to go, they should consider accessing GPs, pharmacists, the Walk-in centre or calling 111.

111 will assess you and direct you to the best placed service in your area and is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with calls being free from landlines and mobile phones.

Due to the serious situation, a series of additional difficult decisions have been made including:

  • Cancelling all planned surgery and outpatient clinics for today (Wednesday) and tomorrow morning (Thursday) – patients will be contacted if their appointments or surgery are taking place. If people have not been contacted, they should assume their clinics are not taking place and will be rearranged.

  • Stopping ‘walk in’ blood tests in the outpatient department at University Hospital so they can be used in ward areas instead of outpatients.