A Lanarkshire MSP has written to the Health Secretary to ask for more help for NHS Lanarkshire after the health board re-entered ‘Code Black’.
NHS Lanarkshire declared a Code Black situation in October 2021 and was only stood down to red on May 4. It was placed back into the highest level on July 27.
University Hospitals Hairmyres, Monklands and Wishaw are all said to be operating at maximum capacity.
Scottish Labour’s Monica Lennon told Lanarkshire Live : “Yo-yoing in and out of Code Black cannot be tolerated as the ‘new normal’ for residents and exhausted healthcare workers in Lanarkshire.
“The fact that NHS Lanarkshire has returned to the highest level of risk less than three months after de-escalation from this level should be a matter of serious concern to the Cabinet Secretary.
“The health board remains under major pressure with bed shortages and staff shortages making it extremely difficult for patients and the workforce.
“The three hospitals in Lanarkshire are at maximum capacity. This is completely unsustainable and cannot be allowed to continue – even operating at Code Red for a prolonged period is serious.
“The Cabinet Secretary must publish a proper action plan as a matter of urgency and pave the way for NHS Lanarkshire to permanently exit Code Black.”
Due to the Code Black status, residents are now being told only to attend its “extremely busy” casualty departments in real emergencies; and while visiting is still currently being allowed, it is being kept under review
Following the confirmation of the return to Code Black status, NHS Lanarkshire chief executive Heather Knox said: “We are facing relentless pressures, bed shortages and staff shortages due to annual leave, sickness absence and self-isolation.
“The safety of our patients and staff is our top priority and we are working through short and medium term actions to increase staffing and also improve the flow of patients in and out of hospital.
“The current situation puts us back to the highest level of risk for NHS Lanarkshire.
“The impact of the current pressures is being felt right across the health and social care system, including GP practices which remain extremely busy.”
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