NHS Lanarkshire say the overstretched capacity of its acute hospitals including expected 12-hour waits at the area’s three emergency departments “has become a patient safety issue”.
Officials describe “relentless pressure” and have asked residents not to attend the casualty departments at Monklands, Wishaw and Hairmyres hospitals “only if they have life-threatening conditions”.
The health board announced yesterday that patients could expect to wait half a day to be seen, with the news coming comes two months after NHS Lanarkshire returned to its highest code black risk status due to the demands being faced.
Director of acute services Judith Park said: “Our three acute hospitals have been working beyond full capacity for a number of weeks and we continue to face relentless pressure, bed shortages and staff shortages.
“We recognise that equivalent challenges are faced across every part of our health and social care system – however, the situation has become even bleaker this week, with patients waiting in excess of 12 hours to be seen and assessed in our emergency departments due to overwhelming demand.
“The wait is putting those who require critical care at serious risk. We continue to prioritise patients who require urgent care; the safety of our patients and all staff is our top priority and we are taking all necessary action to ensure safe and effective care at this time.”
She added that the usual procedure of diverting patients between hospitals in instances of “an exceptionally high rate of emergency admissions” currently “hasn’t been possible due to the pressures being faced across all three sites”.
A total of 123 Lanarkshire patients waited more than 12 hours to be seen in the week ending August 28, the latest for which figures are available – consisting of 72 at Wishaw, 34 at Hairmyres and 17 at Monklands.
One third of the 3910 attendees at the three emergency departments waited more than the target four hours in that week, while the number of people facing 12-hour waits has been in treble figures since mid-June and so far has peaked at 209 in early July when the health board returned to its highest risk level.
Ms Park said: “The current situation in our hospitals has become a patient safety issue; once eventually seen, a lack of bed capacity and flow through the hospital means there is additional pressure in admitting patients who require emergency care in an overcrowded setting.
“To help us alleviate these pressures and patient safety concerns across our system, we are asking the public to only attend emergency departments if they have life-threatening conditions or require urgent care.”
Patients are being asked to use suitable alternative services including minor injury units, calling NHS 24 on 111 or accessing their GP, pharmacy or other community health provision.
Ms Park added: “If someone does have to come to one of our emergency departments, they need to be prepared to face extremely long waits to be seen, in some instances over 12 hours.
“This can lead to patients getting frustrated but we ask that people be patient and be kind and considerate to our staff – we are working extremely hard in very difficult circumstances to do the very best we can for each and every one of our patients.”
Central Scotland politician Monica Lennon MSP called the situation “unacceptable” and demanded action from health secretary Humza Yousaf, saying: “The risk to patients and staff is off the scale.
“The Scottish Government must act now to support a health board clearly on its knees and lead an urgent summit into the NHS Lanarkshire crisis affecting my constituents – we need to do whatever it takes to get our health services out of danger.”
*Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.
