NHS winter crisis as A&Es hit by winter flu amid snow chaos – see full list of 'critical incidents'
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A surge in winter viruses have forced eight UK hospitals to declare critical incidents – with an unusually high number of infectious patients needing isolation and treatment. It comes after shocking NHS figures revealed cases of the flu had skyrocketed by 300% in the last month, as patients struck down with the illness continue to take over hundreds of beds across the country. Hospitals struggling to meet the demands were today forced to turn their patients away, urging sick people to visit their GPs or call 111 instead.
Flu symptoms include breathing difficulties, chest pain and dehydration, which for many vulnerable Brits, would require hospital treatment. Last week, a UK hospital declared a critical incident after an overwhelming number of sick patients arrived needing care.
East Surrey Hospital stressed there had been a "sharp rise in winter viruses" while NHS officials urged people to avoid the hospital as they tackled staffing levels and "significant pressure". Ed Cetti, Chief Medical Officer at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust said: "Due to high levels of demand and a sharp increase in winter viruses which is impacting staffing levels and how we move patients around our site, our services are under significant pressure.".
Surrey and Sussex NHS Trust declared the critical incident on Thursday, standing it down three days later. Today, hospitals in four different NHS Trusts are facing the same extreme pressures, including one that welcomes more than 300 patients in one day. Here's the full list:.
