Cornwall hospitals declares critical incident as patients queue outside A&E in ambulances
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Patients are queuing in ambulances outside a hospital with a critical incident declared by NHS services in Cornwall due to "significant pressure". NHS bosses have made the decision this evening following the sustained demand which the Royal Cornwall Hospital and its emergency department have been under over the week.
Kate Shields, Chief Executive of NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board said that ambulances are being forced to wait outside the Royal Cornwall Hospital and patients are also queuing to be seen in the emergency department. She said: “We are currently seeing a high number of ambulances waiting outside the Royal Cornwall Hospital and of patients in our emergency department. There are also a large number of patients in Cornwall’s hospitals who are medically fit to be discharged but are awaiting the right care.
“Declaring a critical incident allows the NHS to take additional, immediate steps to create capacity, help discharge patients, relieve pressure on our emergency department and release ambulances and their crews.” The NHS authority said its staff right across the county are working exceptionally hard to provide care based on peoples’ medical need.
Ms Shield’s continued: “We urgently need the public’s support to make sure we can see those who are sickest and have the greatest need. Please only come to the emergency department if you have a life or limb-threatening emergency. Other NHS services are available, and we encourage you to use them whenever possible. These include our network of minor injury units, our urgent treatment centre at West Cornwall Hospital, out-of-hours GP services, local pharmacies and NHS 111.
