Hospitals in Birmingham warn of huge winter pressure on services

Heartlands Hospital has seen a four-fold increase in patients through its emergency department.

Author: Kellie MaddoxPublished 10th Dec 2024
Last updated 12th Dec 2024

Hospitals in Birmingham have warned services are under huge pressure, with increasing numbers of patients with flu and norovirus.

People are being urged to consider the best place to be treated, to relieve pressure on emergency departments across the city.

The University Hospitals Birmingham Trust (UHB), which runs Heartlands, the QE and Good Hope hospitals, said people should use the 111 service, urgent treatment centres and pharmacies, if their condition is not life-threatening.

Latest NHS data shows a four-fold increase of people in hospital with flu compared to the same time last year – the highest number of cases heading into winter for at least three years.

Dr Zainab Hussein, an A&E Resident Doctor at the UHB Trust, said: "We're seeing more staff sicknesses, as well as a high turnover of patients than we normally would.

"We've actually seen an increase of over four times the number of patients entering through the emergency department at Heartlands.

"Having a mixture of all of these viruses in the waiting room, means people are going home with several different viruses which actually don't need to be spread further, if they stay at home and seek the correct treatment in a safe environment.

"With increased levels of staff sickness, it also means there a fewer doctors available to see patients who are at critical stages as well."

Advising patients on where the should seek alternative treatment, Dr Hussein added: "Try to contact 111 if you have less severe symptoms which can be treated at an urgent care centre or a local pharmacy.

"If you are coming into a hospital setting, ensure that you are wearing a face mask - it's not only protecting yourself and your loved ones, but also the staff who are treating you as well."

The NHS has put measures in place to manage extra demand during winter, which include upgrading 24-hour live data centres, strengthening same day emergency care and offering more falls services for older people.

NHS national medical director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, said: “The NHS is busier than it has ever been before heading into winter, with flu and norovirus numbers in hospital rising sharply – and we are still only at the start of December, so we expect pressure to increase and there is a long winter ahead of us.

“For a while there have been warnings of a ‘tripledemic’ of COVID-19, flu and RSV this winter, but with rising cases of norovirus this could fast become a ‘quad-demic’ so it’s important that if you haven’t had your covid or flu jab to follow the lead of millions of others and come forward and get protected as soon as possible.

“Ambulances are also facing huge demand, with thousands of extra patients and other pressures having an impact on handover delays, which is why our robust plans, including services like urgent treatment centres and same day emergency care are so important this winter."

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