Critical incident as Worcestershire hospital demand spikes

A critical incident allows an NHS trust to bring in extra staff at times of high demand

A hospital trust has confirmed it declared a critical incident on Sunday because of pressure on its services.

The Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said there had been long patient waits, ambulance handover delays and pressure on beds across its sites in Worcester, Redditch and Kidderminster.

Extra staff were brought in and the critical incident status was withdrawn on Monday morning.

Chief Executive Glen Burley apologised for delays in treatment.

He also asked people in the area to only use their local emergency departments for the most serious illness or injury.

Last month, a new, £35m emergency department opened at Worcestershire Royal Hospital

The aim was to reduce waiting times and people being treated in corridors following criticism of the trust over patients' experience.

The trust also operates an emergency department in Redditch.