Hospital declares critical incident after winter viruses ramp up demand

A critical incident has been declared at the East Surrey Hospital following a high level of demand along with winter viruses.

The Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust declared the incident today at the hospital following a spike in demand.

Patients who are not suffering from a life-threatening condition are being sent to other NHS services – such as a pharmacy or their GP – to ease pressure at East Surrey Hospital.

People should only come to the hospital ‘in a life-threatening emergency,’ hospital bosses urged.

Ed Cetti, the chief medical officer at the Trust, said: ‘Due to high levels of demand and a sharp increase in winter viruses which is impacting staffing levels and how we move patients around our site, our services are under significant pressure.

‘Our staff are working around the clock to minimise disruption to those already on our wards, treat all patients coming into our Emergency Department, and continue to discharge patients who no longer require acute care to ensure we have available beds for those who need admission, but please only attend East Surrey Hospital in a life-threatening emergency.

‘If your condition isn’t life-threatening, please utilise other NHS services such as 111 online, your local pharmacy or GP, as well as nearby treatment centres at Crawley, Caterham Dene, Horsham and East Grinstead. This will help ensure emergency care is available to patients who need it most.’

Some non-urgent operations might have to be rescheduled over the coming days, while cancer and ‘most urgent operations will continue to be prioritised,’ the Trust said.

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