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Nottinghamshire NHS system declares critical incident due to ‘significant’ pressure




Our county’s NHS system has declared a ‘critical incident’ this evening as a result of ‘significant and sustained pressure’ on its services.

The status has been declared for Nottinghamshire and Nottingham, with bosses saying it is needed to ‘protect patient safety’.

A critical incident is only declared in extreme circumstances – and is called when there is a risk that services will not be able to run as normal. It can also see non-clinical staff being drafted in to try to help to tackle the issue.

Nottinghamshire’s A&E system is facing severe pressure
Nottinghamshire’s A&E system is facing severe pressure

An NHS spokesman said there are high numbers of patients arriving at emergency departments and vowed that staff are doing all they can. However, patients are facing ‘very long’ waits in A&E and for admission to wards.

They said that this is due to the high number of people needing care and the current ‘reduction in staffing levels’, a nod towards the current strike action.

Dr Dave Briggs, medical director at NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, said: “Please only attend A&E if it is vital, this means a life-threatening illness or injury that cannot be treated elsewhere, this allows us to treat those who need us the most. There are things everyone can do to help, and we are asking people to use our services wisely and to think about self-care as an option for some conditions, such as coughs and colds, before automatically going to the NHS for help.

“If self-care isn't an option, then choosing the right service will help patients to get the right treatment first time and usually more quickly – 111 online is a great resource to help with that. One way the public can help us is by supporting our NHS teams to get your relatives home from hospital if they are medically fit to leave. We are grateful to everyone who has taken steps to help, and we would like to thank our incredible teams across the health and social care sector for their efforts in keeping the public safe."

More information is available on the Nottinghamshire NHS website for those needing urgent and non-urgent care – with bosses saying emergency cases and current inpatients are the priority.

Newark Hospital.
Newark Hospital.

Patients are being advised that they can help by:

*Only calling 999 or going to A&E in a ‘life-threatening emergency’.

*Calling 111 or visiting NHS111 online for advice

*Using urgent treatment centres, such as Newark Hospital for non-emergency conditions. The Boundary Road hospital is open 9am-10pm, with the last patient admitted at 9.30pm.

*Using the NHS App and local pharmacies​​​​​​​ for help with medication.

What do you think? Does our NHS need more support to be able to cope with the pressure it is facing? Post your thoughts below

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