Four hospital trusts in Surrey have announced critical incidents due to significant and ongoing pressures affecting their services. The situation has been worsened by a rise in cases of flu and norovirus, as well as staff absences. The recent cold weather has also prompted more patients to seek medical care.
The trusts affected include Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, and Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust in Surrey. Additionally, the East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust declared a critical incident at the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate due to sustained pressures.
NHS Surrey Heartlands explained that the critical incidents were declared to ensure safe and high-quality care for patients amid a surge in complex emergency department visits and ongoing challenges in discharging patients. The situation has been compounded by increased cases of flu, norovirus, and staff sickness, with adverse weather conditions leading to more admissions of frail patients.
Dr. Charlotte Canniff, Joint Chief Medical Officer of NHS Surrey Heartlands, emphasized the need to maintain safe services amidst extreme pressures, which may necessitate rescheduling non-urgent operations and appointments. The public was urged to use services appropriately and only visit emergency departments in cases of genuine emergencies, while essential services remain fully operational for those in need of urgent medical assistance.
Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust also declared a critical incident, citing a high number of emergency department visits and patients awaiting inpatient admission. The trust operates various hospitals, including Royal Surrey County Hospital and specialized cancer centers.
Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust mainly oversees Epsom Hospital and St Helier Hospital, while Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust operates East Surrey Hospital in Redhill and manages services at multiple other locations. East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust manages several hospitals in East Kent, including the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital.
These critical incidents highlight the strain on healthcare services and the need for coordinated efforts to ensure patient care and safety during challenging circumstances.