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| 'Major incidents' remain at eight hospitals in England | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Major incidents are in place at eight hospitals in England as staff struggle to cope with the number of patients. | |
| Hospitals in Staffordshire, Yorkshire, Gloucestershire and Surrey are among those affected, with three others declaring "internal major incidents". | |
| A paramedic in the West Midlands said A&E doors were locked at Royal Stoke University Hospital. The hospital has yet to comment on the claim. | |
| Planned surgery has also been also affected at some hospitals. | |
| Hospitals where major incidents have been declared | |
| West Midland Ambulance paramedic Stuart Gardiner, who is a Unison branch vice-chairman, 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." | West Midland Ambulance paramedic Stuart Gardiner, who is a Unison branch vice-chairman, 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. |
| 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. | |
| 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. |
| Find out latest wait times for your hospital | Find out latest wait times for your hospital |
| 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 may be cancelled. | Seventeen people expecting surgery have been warned it may be 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 had postponed a "considerable" number of non-urgent operations. | 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 had postponed a "considerable" number of non-urgent operations. |
| United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Boston Pilgrim, Lincoln County and Grantham hospitals, said all three were on "black alert" - which signifies ongoing high demand for beds - and it has had to cancel leave and call in more staff. | United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Boston Pilgrim, Lincoln County and Grantham hospitals, said all three were on "black alert" - which signifies ongoing high demand for beds - and it has had to cancel leave and call in more staff. |
| 'Never this bad' | 'Never this bad' |
| Pauline Pratt, acting chief nurse at the trust, said: "We are all doing what we can. If someone is sick we will treat them somewhere as best we can." | Pauline Pratt, acting chief nurse at the trust, said: "We are all doing what we can. If someone is sick we will treat them somewhere as best we can." |
| Tina White, deputy director of operations at Boston Pilgrim Hospital, in Lincolnshire, said: "I have worked in the NHS for 34 years and I have never seen it quite this bad. | |
| "We are pleading with the public to help us manage people out of hospital and for people not to turn up at an A&E department unless they really, really need our services." | "We are pleading with the public to help us manage people out of hospital and for people not to turn up at an A&E department unless they really, really need our services." |
| The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in King's Lynn, said it was also on "black alert". | |
| The Royal Surrey County Hospital, in Guildford, reported "severe pressures" and "unprecedented" demand on A&E but has not declared a major incident. | |
| Peterborough City Hospital, Croydon University Hospital and Glenfield Hospital, Leicester have declared "internal major incidents". | |
| Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, Hereford County Hospital and Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital said they 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. |