Gloucestershire’s health services declare a critical incident to support care
I am writing to inform you that health and care services across Gloucestershire continue to experience significant operational pressures and a critical incident has been declared to help improve the position.
Health leaders have made this decision following sustained pressure experienced by both main hospitals, community services and South West Ambulance services over the last week.
Declaring a critical incident allows the NHS in Gloucestershire to take additional, immediate steps to create capacity, help discharge patients, relieve pressure on the emergency departments and also release ambulances and their crews.
Key actions for health and care services include providing additional GP appointments through 111, opening additional community beds to support people leaving hospital and increasing staffing levels (clinicians) across all urgent care services.
The number of patients with flu and norovirus, as well as COVID-19 and Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), has continued to rise and the viruses are particularly challenging for the most vulnerable patients, including the very old and very young and contribute to staff sickness at the same time.
The number of patients requiring hospital admission, and occasionally intensive care or respiratory high care, is increasing to levels not seen for some time. In response, the Hospitals Trust has established cohort bays and wards in line with best practice Infection, Prevention and Control standards.
Our key public messages are:
Calling 999 or attending an Emergency Department
Only call 999 or attend the two Emergency Departments at Gloucester and Cheltenham if it’s a life-threatening condition or serious injury. For example, if someone is unconscious, not breathing or is bleeding heavily.
If you are unwell with flu, norovirus or COVID-19
Please don’t go to a health setting such as GP surgery, emergency department or minor injury and illness unit or visit a loved one in hospital. Please use NHS 111 online or phone 111 first for advice. You can help us by not spreading your illness to others, instead stay home, get plenty of rest and stay hydrated.
How to find appropriate services
Follow our Click or Call First campaign advice and guidance on how to access the most appropriate care and service to meet your needs.
Face Coverings
We are encouraging the public to wear face coverings when visiting hospitals and other healthcare premises.
Have a loved one in hospital?
We are asking relatives and carers to do everything they can to work with us to get their loved one’s home from hospital as quickly and as safely as possible, with additional help, if necessary, from local NHS community services or adult social care teams.
Get your flu vaccination
Free flu vaccinations are still available to those eligible (see here). Speak to your pharmacy team (find one here) or GP practice.
The safety and care of all of our patients are our top priorities. Please be assured that One Gloucestershire partners are working as hard as we possibly can to manage the high levels of need and ensure a strong integrated approach to care is in place across primary, community, hospital and emergency services.
Finally, I am sure you will join me in thanking our health and care professionals across the county for their incredible dedication and resilience during this challenging winter season
