Hull Royal Infirmary facing significant pressures
We're being asked to avoid using the Emergency Department for anything other than very serious or urgent conditions
Hull Royal Infirmary has confirmed it's facing significant strain and is asking for people to help to ease the pressure by only going to A & E in an emergency.
It says it's grown increasingly busy in recent days.
We're being asked to avoid using the emergency department for anything other than very serious or urgent conditions.
It says there are lengthy waits for people who are not needing the most urgent attention.
Pressures are being seen at both exit and entry points, with:
Very high numbers of people attending the Emergency Department (ED)
Lengthy waits for patients in ED requiring anything other than the most urgent attention
A high number of patients who are ready to leave hospital but are unable to be discharged, often because they are awaiting community care packages or placements
People are being asked to use other services across Hull and the East Riding to meet their needs where appropriate. This is to allow medical staff at the ‘front door’ to focus on the most critically ill and seriously injured.
Professor Makani Purva, Chief Medical Officer for Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust says:
“Demands on hospital care are as high as they have ever been right now, with large numbers of people attending for walk-in care, high numbers of people requiring admission, and a high number of people who are ready for discharge but unable to leave until the right community support is in place.
“We are working with NHS and local authority partners to try and create capacity within the system but this takes time, so we’re also reviewing what non-urgent activity we have taking place and whether moves such as staff redeployment may help to ease the pressure.
“Staff are doing a great job under the circumstances, but there is something everyone can do to help our medical and nursing staff prioritise the most seriously ill in our community.
“It’s something we say often, but we really do need people to use services other than A&E where at all possible; not only will this be quicker and usually more convenient for them, it will also be a huge support to our emergency care staff, ward staff and partners in the ambulance service right now.”
The Trust that looks after the hospital has advised where it is felt clinically safe/suitable, patients arriving at the Emergency Department may be asked to use alternative services such as Urgent Treatment Centres where waiting times will be significantly less.
It says patients should continue to seek help for routine medical complaints and non-urgent health issues through their GP surgery, local pharmacy or use the NHS111 phone or online service.