NHS Lanarkshire says its three acute hospitals are completely full and “working beyond capacity” – and is asking residents “to consider alternatives to accident and emergency” amid the prospect of 10-hour waiting times.
Health board officials say their staff and facilities are under “relentless pressures” including a trebling of COVID cases since last month, along with hugely increased patient numbers, ward closures and staff shortages.
The emergency departments at Monklands, Hairmyres and Wishaw General hospitals saw their highest number of patients in five months in the last week of February with a combined total of 3830; up 14 per cent from those in the first four weeks of 2022.
