The trust says demand is high at William Harvey Hospital and all beds are full. [Getty Images]
A serious incident has been declared at a hospital in Kent. The hospital says it is dealing with a large number of patients in need of care.
East Kent Hospitals NHS Trust said all hospital beds at William Harvey Hospital in Ashford were full, with patients suffering from winter illnesses and respiratory viruses, and the number of people going to emergency departments was “very high”.
The trust has warned that it has “limited capacity” to take in more patients who require urgent hospital treatment.
People are urged to only attend A&E for life-threatening illnesses or injuries, but families are urged to gather relatives who are ready to leave hospital as soon as possible to free up beds.
Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer Sarah Hayes said the team was working incredibly hard under busy circumstances.
“The pressure on our emergency services remains extremely high and we are focused on supporting patients who need it most,” she said.
Under the Critical Incident Procedure, teams are working to reduce avoidable hospital admissions by prioritizing the safe discharge of patients who no longer require inpatient treatment.
“The wait time is very long”
Mr Hayes said declaring a major incident had enabled the trust to obtain additional support across the health system.
The group warns that people with non-life-threatening injuries could face very long wait times in emergency departments.
People are being asked to call NHS 111, their GP, pharmacy or urgent care centre.
The trust said planned procedures and appointments are being reviewed, but patients have been told that their surgeries should be assumed to proceed unless they are contacted.
People with winter viruses are advised to stay home, rest, drink fluids and use over-the-counter medicines such as paracetamol and ibuprofen to manage symptoms.
If you require urgent treatment, the NHS advises that you should continue to call 999 for life-threatening emergencies and NHS 111 for all other emergencies.
The trust operates hospitals in Ashford, Canterbury, Dover, Folkestone and Margate.
Follow BBC Kent facebookabove ×and further Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk Or contact us on WhatsApp 08081 002250.
More about this story
Related internet links