NHS Lanarkshire has returned to its highest risk level amid “relentless pressures” which mean all three of the area’s acute hospitals are again operating beyond their critical occupancy capacities.
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.
It means the health board is back at the top code-black level of risk less than three months after moving down to the second-top tier of red for the first time since October 2021.
Officiala say that Monklands, Wishaw and Hairmyres Hospitals are “all at maximum capacity” and are under “sustained pressure”, leading to the decision to increase the area’s risk level.
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 current situation puts us back to the highest level of risk for NHS Lanarkshire.
“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.
“Our three accident and emergency (A&E) departments remain extremely busy with long waiting times to be seen – patients are also waiting in A&E for admission to beds.
“We strongly advise people that, if your condition isn’t life-threatening, please do not attend our A&Es. Call NHS 24 on 111 to access the right care and only go to A&E or call 999 if it’s an emergency.”
She added: “We recognise that experiencing long waits can lead to people getting frustrated, but we ask that people be patient and be kind and considerate to our staff at all times – we are working extremely hard in very difficult circumstances to do the very best we can for each and every one of our patients.
“Our staff are doing everything they can and showing the highest levels of professionalism, commitment and resilience. We hope that the current actions being taken will help ease the pressures on our staff and services.
“The impact of the current pressures is being felt right across the health and social care system, including GP practices which remain extremely busy.”
NHS Lanarkshire last month announced that hospital visitors would no longer need to book appointments to see in-patients, and Ms Knox said: “Despite this escalated level of risk, we have decided at present to maintain our current visiting arrangements; however, this will be kept under review.”
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