Two South West hospital trusts declare highest alert

Opel 4 level is the highest alert a hospital can reach

Two hospital trusts in the South West have declared the highest alert as they are "extremely busy" with patients.

Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust (RCHT) and Derriford Hospital in Plymouth are at Opel 4 level, which is when a hospital is "unable to deliver comprehensive care".

A spokesperson from RCHT said it was because "pressure has gradually built over the course of the last week."

Derriford Hospital also said it had seen "a large number of attendances".

Opel 4 - the highest level of escalation - means pressure on the local health system continues to escalate, leaving organisations unable to deliver comprehensive care.

RCHT declared it was at Opel 4 on 3 October.

'Use alternative services'

Doctor Mark Jadav, a consultant with RCHT, said the emergency department usually saw a "drop in attendances" during the autumn and attendances were up from last year.

"We are busy but I think the main problem for emergency services at the present time the beds throughout the rest of the health and social care system are not available and that seems to what's causing the main problem," he told BBC Radio Cornwall.

"Occasionally we'll see people come with minor injuries to the ED [emergency department] or things they need to see their own GP for.

"For those people we're asking them to use alternative services at this present time."

Derriford Hospital in Plymouth is also at the highest level of escalation

Doctor Jadav added although there was a "wave of Covid" staff were "not seeing a lot of people very sick" with the virus and this was not the main reason for increased attendances.

He said the vaccination programme had "reduced the severity".

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust said in a statement Derriford Hospital was "extremely busy, and we have seen a large number of attendances to our emergency department".

"If you need medical help and advice the 111 phone or online service can refer into emergency departments or direct to urgent treatment centres/minor injury units if needed," the statement said.

"However, always call 999 in a life-threatening emergency."

The trust added those picking up patients from the hospital should do so "as they are medically fit to be discharged" and it will help staff "care for those people who are acutely unwell".

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