Portsmouth's Queen Alexandra Hospital declares critical incident

The trust said hospital staff were doing "everything in their power" to care for patients in a safe and timely way

A hospital has declared a critical incident as demand soars in its emergency department.

The high number of people needing care at Portsmouth's Queen Alexandra Hospital has resulted in lengthy waits.

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust (PHU) apologised and said the situation was "not acceptable".

It said its emergency services remained open for those with life-threatening issues, but warned there would be delays to treat other conditions.

In a statement, released on Wednesday afternoon, it said the incident was declared to protect patient safety and partners across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

'Emergencies only'

"The Portsmouth community and partners can help us by supporting patients who are ready for discharge and thinking carefully before making a trip to our emergency department, which should always be the place for treating emergencies, but not the first port of call for more minor illnesses," a spokesperson said.

Relatives have also been urged to help family members return home from hospital as soon as possible, rather than relying on patient transport, in a bid to reduce delays.

"Please speak to the team of healthcare professionals on the wards about how you can help and if you can support discharge a few days earlier," the trust said.

Alternative support and care is available through Urgent Treatment Centres (UTCs), pharmacies or calling 111.

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