Staff shortages lead to hospital trusts declaring critical incidents

Staff shortages and rising pressures due to Covid-19 have led to critical incidents being declared at several hospital trusts.

 

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust and Great Western Hospitals in Wiltshire have all been hit hard.  Derriford Hospital in Plymouth has declared problems offloading ambulances and has recorded nearly 500 staff absences.

 

Critical incidents are declared when health chiefs are concerned they cannot provide priority services, including treatment for heart disease or cancer patients.

 

Aaron Cummins, chief executive of The University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust, said in an internal message to staff “Sadly, despite everyone’s best efforts, many of our patients are still receiving a level of care and experience that falls below the level of standards we would like.”

 

He added that the escalation “allows us to be able to take additional steps to maintain safe services for our patients and help us cope with the growing pressures”.

 

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s Natalie Hudson, said there was “very high demand” for services and “long waits” in urgent care and emergency departments.

 

She added that there were very high levels of bed occupancy, while visiting had been suspended, and said that these factors were being “exacerbated by rapidly rising rates of Covid-19 in the community and rising rates of admissions and staff absences.”

 

Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence claims, providing support and guidance after life-changing events.  Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.

 

If you believe that you or a relative may have been injured as a result of clinical/medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our medical negligence solicitors on the freephone number below.

 

Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

 

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