Yeovil District Hospital at highest level of demand

Yeovil District Hospital has revealed it's currently under severe pressure due to high levels of demand.

Some routine operations have been postponed and people in Somerset are being urged to avoid A&E unless it's a genuine emergency.

The hospital is describing it's demand as being of the highest level - 'OPEL Level 4'.

The hospital was forced to open an additional 30 beds on Tuesday (3/01) night to manage the numbers of patients being admitted by ambulance, many of whom were from surrounding rural villages.

Yeovil District Hospital and Taunton’s Musgrove Park Hospital have already been forced to postpone some routine hospital operations as a consequence of the exceptionally high levels of demand.

Somerset county’s health and social care system has been operating the second highest level of demand (Opel 3) for the last 24 hours.

What do OPEL levels mean?

‘OPEL Level Three’ is the second highest level of demand. It means the local health and social care system is experiencing major pressures reducing the flow of patients into and out of hospital, with patient flow continuing to increase.

‘Opel Level Four’ is the highest level of demand. This may used to describe the most severe pressure upon the local health and social care system; where demand continues to rise leaving organisations struggling or unable to deliver comprehensive care.