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Gloucestershire hospitals declare major incident Gloucestershire hospitals declare major incident
(about 9 hours later)
A major incident has been declared for two hospitals in Gloucestershire, due to high demand in A&E departments.A major incident has been declared for two hospitals in Gloucestershire, due to high demand in A&E departments.
A spokesman for Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said 30% of people using Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General's emergency departments had "non-urgent ailments". An NHS spokesman said 30% of people using Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General's emergency departments had "non-urgent ailments".
People have been asked to consider options other than A&E, such as calling the NHS 111 helpline.People have been asked to consider options other than A&E, such as calling the NHS 111 helpline.
Bristol and north Somerset's A&E units are also dealing with high demand. It is the second time in a month the NHS Trust has declared the status in order to get extra help.
The trust spokesman said another factor contributing to the problem in Gloucestershire was the high number of "elderly patients being admitted, whose needs are often more complex". Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said another factor contributing to the current problem was the high number of "elderly patients being admitted, whose needs are often more complex".
Bristol and north Somerset's A&E units are also dealing with high demand, with local health trusts saying they faced "unprecedented demand" over the weekend.
The declaring of a major incident means extra resources can be brought in such as specialist teams, additional staff, equipment and facilities.The declaring of a major incident means extra resources can be brought in such as specialist teams, additional staff, equipment and facilities.
Last month, the medical director of NHS England, Sir Bruce Keogh, said the "system is creaking" as winter takes hold.
In order to help, the government has increased its winter resilience funding for the NHS to £700m - 75% more than last year.
'Major incident' definition for local NHS organisations
"Any occurrence that presents serious threat to the health of the community, disruption to the service or causes (or is likely to cause) such numbers or types of casualties as to require special arrangements to be implemented by hospitals, ambulance trusts or other acute or community provider organisations."
Source: NHS England Commissioning Board