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| 'Major incidents' remain at six hospitals in England | 'Major incidents' remain at six hospitals in England |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Major incidents remain in place at six hospitals in England as staff struggle to cope with the number of patients. | Major incidents remain in place at six hospitals in England as staff struggle to cope with the number of patients. |
| The Royal Stoke University Hospital, Stafford Hospital, Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Cheltenham General Hospital, Scarborough Hospital, and Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals are affected. | The Royal Stoke University Hospital, Stafford Hospital, Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, Cheltenham General Hospital, Scarborough Hospital, and Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals are affected. |
| A paramedic in the West Midlands claimed A&E doors were locked at Royal Stoke University Hospital. | A paramedic in the West Midlands claimed A&E doors were locked at Royal Stoke University Hospital. |
| Planned surgery is also affected. | |
| Stuart Gardiner, a West Midlands Ambulance paramedic, said: "They actually locked the front doors for the A&E department [at Royal Stoke University Hospital] so we couldn't get in. Our management team had to phone up to try to get us in." | Stuart Gardiner, a West Midlands Ambulance paramedic, said: "They actually locked the front doors for the A&E department [at Royal Stoke University Hospital] so we couldn't get in. Our management team had to phone up to try to get us in." |
| Mr Gardiner believes the department has shut its doors to ambulances four times previously. | Mr Gardiner believes the department has shut its doors to ambulances four times previously. |
| The hospital is yet to comment on the claims. | The hospital is yet to comment on the claims. |
| Mark Hackett, the chief executive of the hospital, said there had been an "outbreak" of pneumonia in the community which had resulted in about 90 people needing beds. | Mark Hackett, the chief executive of the hospital, said there had been an "outbreak" of pneumonia in the community which had resulted in about 90 people needing beds. |
| "Levels of [hospital] demand this year are high nationally. This is not a local issue," he added. | "Levels of [hospital] demand this year are high nationally. This is not a local issue," he added. |
| Mike Proctor, deputy chief executive of York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said Scarborough Hospital was in a better position than on Monday but not in a position to de-escalate. | Mike Proctor, deputy chief executive of York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said Scarborough Hospital was in a better position than on Monday but not in a position to de-escalate. |
| He said a major incident was not a "magic wand but it allows us to say to the world we've got difficulties". | He said a major incident was not a "magic wand but it allows us to say to the world we've got difficulties". |
| The trust is trying to open extra beds at other hospitals that "might relieve pressure". | The trust is trying to open extra beds at other hospitals that "might relieve pressure". |
| Seventeen people expecting surgery have been warned it maybe cancelled. | Seventeen people expecting surgery have been warned it maybe cancelled. |
| Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals, in Chertsey, said the pressure on A&E had eased and it was no longer having to cancel outpatient appointments, but it has postponed a "considerable" number of non urgent operations. | |
| The Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford reported "severe pressures" and "unprecedented" demand on A&E but has not declared a major incident. | |
| Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, and Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital said it had declared internal incidents. | Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, and Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital said it had declared internal incidents. |
| The problems come on the same day figures show the NHS in England has missed its four-hour A&E waiting time target with performance dropping to its lowest level for a decade. | The problems come on the same day figures show the NHS in England has missed its four-hour A&E waiting time target with performance dropping to its lowest level for a decade. |
| Analysis: Nick Triggle, BBC Health Correspondent | Analysis: Nick Triggle, BBC Health Correspondent |
| If a hospital declares a major incident or internal incident, it is a sign that things have got exceptionally busy and special measures are needed to cope. | If a hospital declares a major incident or internal incident, it is a sign that things have got exceptionally busy and special measures are needed to cope. |
| This can happen in winter when demands are high, but also at other times, for example if there is a major road accident. The declaration allows hospital bosses to call in extra staff to help them cope. But it is also worth noting that some hospitals may not necessarily go public with their problems. You can be sure that there are more sites under intense pressure than the numbers officially on alert. | This can happen in winter when demands are high, but also at other times, for example if there is a major road accident. The declaration allows hospital bosses to call in extra staff to help them cope. But it is also worth noting that some hospitals may not necessarily go public with their problems. You can be sure that there are more sites under intense pressure than the numbers officially on alert. |
| What is important is what steps they take in terms of restricting the flow of patients into the hospital. One of the first measures is to start postponing routine activity, such as knee and hip operations or outpatient appointments. This is not uncommon - and is likely to be happening at a significant number of sites at the moment. | What is important is what steps they take in terms of restricting the flow of patients into the hospital. One of the first measures is to start postponing routine activity, such as knee and hip operations or outpatient appointments. This is not uncommon - and is likely to be happening at a significant number of sites at the moment. |
| More unusual is diverting ambulances so no emergency patients arrive. In effect, that closes the hospital. However, this is only used as a last resort as it increases demands on nearby sites. | More unusual is diverting ambulances so no emergency patients arrive. In effect, that closes the hospital. However, this is only used as a last resort as it increases demands on nearby sites. |