Four hospital trusts have announced critical incidents due to significant and ongoing pressures within their services. The situation has been exacerbated by a rise in cases of flu and norovirus, as well as staff absences. The recent cold weather has also led to an increase in patient admissions seeking medical care.
In Surrey, three trusts – Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, and Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust – have declared critical incidents. Additionally, due to sustained pressures at the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate, East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust has also declared a critical incident.
NHS Surrey Heartlands explained that the critical incidents were declared to address the surge in complex emergency department visits and challenges in discharging patients promptly. The situation has been further strained by flu, norovirus cases, staff sickness, and the cold weather affecting more vulnerable patients.
Dr. Charlotte Canniff, Joint Chief Medical Officer of NHS Surrey Heartlands, emphasized the need for additional measures to maintain safe services amidst growing pressures. Some non-urgent operations, treatments, and outpatient appointments may be rescheduled to prioritize patients with urgent clinical needs. The public is urged to attend appointments unless contacted otherwise, with a focus on prioritizing urgent treatments.
Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust highlighted the high volume of Emergency Department visits and patient admissions awaiting inpatient care, leading to the declaration of a critical incident. Efforts are being made to expedite patient discharges and improve hospital flow.
The trusts mentioned, including Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, and East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, operate multiple hospitals across their respective regions, providing essential acute care services.