NHS trusts in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire have urged the public not to call 999 or attend A&E departments unless there is a life-threatening emergency. The appeal comes amid claims that the NHS is under more pressure than during the height of the Covid pandemic.
Today, a spokesperson for local NHS services told Bristol Live: "Local health and care services are under exceptional pressure, and it is more important than ever that people use services appropriately. In particular, please only call 999 or go to A&E if it is a life-threatening emergency. For non-emergency conditions, visit NHS 111 online, a local pharmacy, minor injury unit or GP.
“If you have a loved one in hospital who is ready for discharge, please also help staff with the practical arrangements needed to help them return home. Prompt discharge frees hospital beds for those who need them most and helps to reduce ambulance handover delays."
Read More: Symptoms of 'winter lurgy' that's not covid as described by Bristol people
The statement from NHS trusts in the Bristol area comes a day after NHS Gloucestershire tweeted: “URGENT | Don’t attend the two A&Es unless it’s a life-threatening condition or serious injury. Our staff are under unprecedented pressure. For other services, let ASAP Glos NHS or 111 guide you.”x
It was the second day in a row that the hospital had put out an urgent appeal to the public. A critical incident was also announced several days ago by 999 bosses in the southwest who have urged those waiting for an ambulance to stop calling to ask when paramedics will arrive and only call if their condition worsens.
On Tuesday afternoon South Western Ambulance Service issued this appeal: “We remain under extreme pressure. Please help us to help you. If you've called 999, please don't ring back simply to ask for an estimated arrival time - but do call if the patient’s condition worsens, or if they are making their own way to hospital.”
This afternoon, Gloucestershire Live reported that there were over 100 patients at A&E at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. The 107 patients waited around two hours to see a clinician and spent 15 hours in the department. At Cheltenham General, there were 72 people in A&E on Monday afternoon. The average wait to see a clinician was one hour, with patients being discharged or admitted within three hours.
Nationally, flu, Covid and Strep A have put the NHS under intense pressure, with the president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, Dr Adrian Boyle, claiming on New Year's Day that between 300 and 500 people are dying each week because of delays in emergency care.
Speaking to Times Radio, he said: “If you look at the graphs, they all are going the wrong way, and I think there needs to be a real reset. We need to be in a situation where we cannot just shrug our shoulders and say this winter was terrible, let’s do nothing until next winter,"
As more and more trusts across the country have complained of reaching crisis point over the festive break, a Department of Health spokesperson told the media that health secretary Steve Barclay is being kept up to date with developments.
Read More:
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- Don't visit Gloucestershire's A&Es unless you have life-threatening condition
- New Covid variant XBB.1.5 could pile more pressure on NHS, doctors warn
- Strep A map of suspected cases as Bristol GPs record four 'invasive' infections
- Ambulance strikes LIVE as Bristol workers form picket lines
