HOSPITALS across England have declared critical incidents and urged people not to call 999 unless it is life-threatening as the NHS faces exceptional pressure.
Massive demand on A&E departments means that some patients are waiting up to 40 hours for a bed.
PAAmbulances wait at the Royal London hospital[/caption]
AlamyThe health service in Greater Manchester asked people to only call 999 if their condition is a life-threatening emergency[/caption]
Ambulances carrying critically ill patients have been stuck outside hospitals as NHS trusts struggle to free up enough beds to cope.
The health service in Greater Manchester said: “The first day back after the Christmas break is always busy for NHS services — today has been beyond anything we have experienced before.
“We’re making an urgent plea to the public in GM to only call 999 or attend A&E if their condition is a life-threatening emergency.”
In York it was revealed one person waited 40 hours in A&E with more patients arriving than being discharged.
Holidaymakers heading to Cornwall to see in the New Year have been urged to bring their own medication.
Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust said visitors should ensure they pack a first aid kit, pain relief, flu and cold remedy, rehydration powders, and any prescription medication before setting off.
The South West Ambulance Service, which covers the region, declared a critical incident due to being under “extreme pressure”.
Meanwhile Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust in Hampshire was among several to declare a critical incident yesterday — saying services were really stretched.
A doctor who has worked in the NHS for more than 20 years called the crisis a “national emergency”.
He said the pressure on the service is “much worse than Covid” and “beyond anything we can safely look after”.
He explained: “We’ve got patients being looked after in corridors, patients in the corridors of each ward as well.
AlamyIn York it was revealed one person waited 40 hours in A&E, with more patients arriving than being discharged[/caption]
AlamyPortsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust in Hampshire was among several to declare a critical incident yesterday[/caption]
“The main issue is there are delays when people need to go into a ward — you can wait up to two days for a bed.”
He said one of the worst things he had seen recently was 36 people being treated in one corridor.
And in a swipe at politicians, he added: “There’s not been enough investment in emergency care and GP surgeries. We’ve not invested in social care and primary care.”
NHS trusts in Nottinghamshire, Kent, Gloucestershire, Surrey and Sussex also announced critical incidents.
The “status” allows trusts to take steps such as seeking help from other services, diverting more staff to the front line and sending patients to nearby hospitals.
Adrian Harris, chief medical officer of Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, asked the public to “think very carefully” before attending casualty units.
The trust said it had seen “record numbers” of people accessing its services, alongside difficulties discharging people from hospital and a rise in staff sickness.
Last week Saffron Cordery, interim chief executive at NHS Providers, said they feared a rebound effect after strikes by paramedics and nurses — as people delayed going to hospital until after Christmas.
She said: “We’re really worried about the pent-up demand.”
AlamyHolidaymakers heading to Cornwall have been urged to bring their own medication[/caption]
The Royal College of Nursing said the NHS had faced “unsustainable pressures” before their strike action and blamed the Government for the crisis.
Dave Wynne tweeted that he had to drive his 95-year-old mum to hospital in Chester, Cheshire, with suspected sepsis due to a 14-hour wait for an ambulance.
He wrote: “17 hours later there are zero hospital beds. One gentleman in a chair for 80 hours.”
Staff at Nottingham University Hospitals were told to “make every bed count” after declaring a critical incident — with 220 patients in A&E and more than 70 waiting for a bed.
An NHS spokesperson said: “There is no doubt the NHS is under considerable pressure, with the latest figures showing 19 in 20 beds occupied amid rising numbers of flu cases in hospital, on top of record A&E demand, increasing staff absences and over 13,000 patients each day in hospital who are medically fit to be discharged.
“Despite this, staff have been working incredibly hard.
“It’s vital that people continue to come forward for care when they need it by using 999 and A&E in a life-threatening emergency and 111 online for other health conditions.”
’23hr wait for 90-yr-old after hip break’
A 90-YEAR-OLD gran waited 23 hours for an ambulance after she fell and broke her hip on Boxing Day.
Jean Stringer was forced to lie on the floor in Highnam, Gloucs, before another four-hour wait once she finally got to Gloucester Royal Hospital.
BBCJean Stringer waited 23 hours for an ambulance after she fell and broke her hip on Boxing Day[/caption]
Granddaughter Rachel Walter, who is a nurse, told the BBC: “She was in an awful lot of pain, we couldn’t move her.
“We made her as comfortable as we could, got some pillows around her and kept her warm and waited.”
Rachel praised the work of the paramedics but said the “service itself is just absolutely stretched.”
‘Tot died after docs said just give her Calpol’
A TODDLER died after being sent home from a busy hospital after being diagnosed with a virus.
Hailey Thompson, one, was taken to Wigan Infirmary on December 18 where doctors advised her parents to give her Calpol and fluids.
SWNSHailey Thompson’s parents have launched a complaint after she died having been sent home from a busy hospital[/caption]
Kris Thompson, 32, and Ibolya Adam, 35, took her home but found Hailey, below, unresponsive next morning. She was taken back to the hospital but died.
Her parents have launched a complaint, claiming her case should have been taken more seriously. Mr Thompson said: “We want answers.”
The local NHS foundation said it was “aware of the family’s concerns”.
‘Gran, 93, left screaming on floor in pain’
A GRAN, aged 93, was left in agony on the floor for 25 hours after breaking her hip at a care home.
The shock image of Elizabeth Davies appeared in The Sun earlier this month.
Daily Post WalesElizabeth Davies was left in agony on the floor for 25 hours after breaking her hip at a care home[/caption]
Elizabeth, of Llanbedrog, North Wales, was forced to wait for an ambulance for more than 24 hours despite members of her family ringing for the ambulance service ten times.
After she was taken to Ysbyty Gwynedd hospital in Bangor, she had a 12-hour wait before getting a ward bed.
Her family said at the time: “It was very upsetting to see her on the floor screaming in pain.”