Patients with conditions not deemed life threatening have been told to go home from a hospital, where a critical incident has been declared.
East Surrey Hospital has asked people to use NHS services such as 111, local pharmacies and GPs, as well as nearby treatment centres. The move was made to ensure emergency care is available for those who need it most.
Patients have been warned the hospital may need to reschedule non-urgent operations, treatments and outpatient appointments for the foreseeable future. Ed Cetti, Chief Medical Officer at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust said: Due to high levels of demand and a sharp increase in winter viruses which is impacting staffing levels and how we move patients around our site, our services are under significant pressure.
Mum who donated daughter’s heart hears it beat again in transplant patient
“Our staff are working around the clock to minimise disruption to those already on our wards, treat all patients coming into our Emergency Department, and continue to discharge patients who no longer require acute care to ensure we have available beds for those who need admission, but please only attend East Surrey Hospital in a life-threatening emergency.
“If your condition isn’t life-threatening, please utilise other NHS services such as 111 online, your local pharmacy or GP, as well as nearby treatment centres at Crawley, Caterham Dene, Horsham and East Grinstead. This will help ensure emergency care is available to patients who need it most.”
Visitors to the hospital are also being asked to follow infection control measures to help curb the spread of winter viruses such as flu and norovirus. This includes practicing good hand-hygiene, reducing their movement around the site, and wearing masks in clinical areas for the first time this winter.
The announcement on the decision reads: “People should however continue to attend appointments unless they are contacted to reschedule. Cancer and our other most urgent operations will continue to be prioritised.
“The public can help us manage these periods of demand by ensuring they are seeking help from the most appropriate health services, and only attending the Emergency Department for serious illnesses, accidents and life-threatening emergencies. If you are unwell and your need is non-urgent please visit NHS 111 online as your first port of call for 24/7 advice about the most appropriate care for your needs. You can also call NHS 111, although phone lines remain very busy.
“Patients who need medical advice should also make use of local pharmacies and their local GP, and for non-life-threatening care such as for minor injuries should visit local Urgent Treatment Centres (UTC) or Minor Injury Units (MIU).”