Hospitals declare another critical incident

Patients are being warned of delays being seen in accident and emergency in Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford

Another critical incident has been declared at two Staffordshire hospitals as they face "extremely high demand" for their services.

Both Royal Stoke University Hospital and County Hospital, in Stafford, have been under "severe and sustained pressure since the start of the year," bosses have said.

There had been "even greater demands" in the last 24 hours, stated University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM).

Declaring a critical incident allowed it to take extra steps to maintain safety, it said, having made the same move in January.

Longer delays

“As anticipated, the pressure is greatest in our emergency departments, which are facing continued challenges as patients cannot be admitted to beds promptly," said medical director Dr Matthew Lewis.

“During this time the emergency departments will continue to see the sickest patients first, which means, for some patients, there may be much longer delays than usual."

UHNM said it was working with the NHS and local councils to find additional ways to help patients who did not need acute care to leave hospital, in order to free up bed space.

People collecting friends or loved ones once they were discharged were also urged to pick them up as soon as possible.

And bosses have stressed that those using A&E should only do so in a serious or life-threatening emergency.