Hospitals across England are facing severe pressure with long waits for beds due to a surge in flu, Covid and RSV cases. Patients report waiting for over 50 hours in A&E, leading to 20 NHS trusts declaring critical incidents.
This week, the NHS has been hit by the 'tidal wave' of pressure that was feared by health services chiefs as winter began. Some patients have reported waits of '50 plus hours' and '60 hours' at Wigan’s Royal Albert Edward Infirmary. Staff at other hospitals in Greater Manchester have shared that there are waits of 'more than 24 hours for a bed' as A&Es battle 'lots of Covid, flu and RSV patients'.
But the wait for beds is so high because there are so many people sick enough to need care in hospital, says one top Greater Manchester GP. Bolton GP Dr Helen Wall has said that while the wait for beds is extreme, it's because there is such a high number of people severely ill enough to warrant being in hospital. Even at a time when those most desperately sick will be prioritised for increasingly scarce beds. “A&Es are busy, but people aren’t being admitted for no reason. These people will be needing oxygen tanks and drips, they’re really ill and need to be there,” said Dr Wall. “The red flags I look for are if you’re not able to breathe properly, or being so dehydrated that you’re not able to pass urine, becoming very confused, collapsing. These are the reasons people are going into hospitals.”\ 'Very busy and people were pinching seats' On Friday, patients of the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary told of how they faced huge waits in A&E. Dean Jennings, 39, was rushed there by ambulance on Saturday night at around 7pm after collapsing at home. Mr Jennings says he was in the A&E until Tuesday, when he was finally taken from A&E to a different ward, and eventually had an operation. He says he was suffering from pneumonia and remains in hospital. “I’ve been in for days,” said Mr Jennings. “It wasn’t until Tuesday when I got put in a proper ward. They were doing my blood transfusions on the corridor. “It’s been so busy, hectic, 60 hours wait and all that. That was on Saturday when it was the busiest. It was disgusting.” Another A&E patient in Wigan told of how he had been warned by a doctor of ‘50 plus hour waits’ for those needing to be admitted. The man, who wished not to be named, went to A&E on Tuesday at 4pm and left around 1am Wednesday morning. His ailment did not require him to be admitted to hospital, but the man was back at hospital today (January 10) for a scan. “It was crammed in there. Very busy and people were pinching seats,” Mr Jennings told the M.E.N. “It took me about three hours to be seen by doctor after I’d arrived but I had to stay around for more tests and ended up leaving about 1am. There were other people seen quicker than me and my doctor said that the 50 plus hour waits are for people who need a hospital bed, not for people like me.”\ About 20 NHS trusts in England have declared critical incidents this week, because of long delays in A&E. It comes as flu cases have continued to spiral, with the average number of patients with the virus in hospital in England topping 5,400 a day last week – around 1,000 higher than a week before. Severe flu cases have continued to skyrocket, leaving an extreme shortage of beds in hospitals. The scarcity of beds has led to numerous hospitals around the country declaring critical incidents. The number of patients with flu is more than three times higher than this time last year and on par with early 2023 – one of the worst flu seasons for many years. 'We're sorry' “Winter and January in particular, is always a time of high demand throughout our hospital services, due to increases in flu, respiratory infections, and other winter-related illnesses,' said Sarah Brennan, Chief Operating Officer for Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh (WWL) Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary. “As these pressures are expected, WWL plans and prepares as much as possible, and our staff work tirelessly to provide safe, effective care for those who need it most during these challenging times. 'However, as a result increasing pressures on our urgent and emergency care services, earlier in the week, we have seen some long waits in our emergency department. We are really sorry that some patients have experienced long waits to be admitted to our hospital. 'Please be assured we are working hard to ensure that people are seen as quickly as possible and appropriately and patients are always seen in order of clinical priority. We would like to reassure the public that patient safety is always our top priority. “The public can help us by remembering that emergency departments should only be used for life, limb and sight threatening illnesses and injuries. If you need help in these situations, you must come forward. For conditions which are less urgent, please use NHS 111 online or by phone, or consider visiting a local pharmacy, walk-in centre or GP practice for suppor
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Children's centre to relocate with patients moved to other areasEast Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust has advised patients on the next steps
Read more »
NHS Urges Public to Use Services Wisely Amidst Winter PressureHealth leaders in the north west of England are warning the public about the use of NHS services due to increasing pressure on hospitals following the Christmas period. A surge in demand for primary care, hospital services, mental health support, and emergency services across Greater Manchester is straining the NHS. Hospitals are facing a high influx of patients, particularly those with chronic respiratory conditions that worsen in cold weather. The NHS advises the public to utilize NHS 111 online for non-urgent medical advice during the New Year.
Read more »
Flu Cases Soar in the NHS, Hospitals Brace for Continued PressureNew NHS data reveals a dramatic surge in flu cases, with over 5,000 patients hospitalized due to the virus last week. This represents a near threefold increase compared to the same period last year. Hospitals are facing mounting pressure from both the flu and other winter viruses like COVID-19, RSV, and norovirus. The UK Health Security Agency has issued amber cold health alerts for England as temperatures are set to plummet, further exacerbating the situation.
Read more »
Half of Brits Unaware They Can Choose NHS Hospitals for TreatmentResearch reveals that a significant portion of the British population is unaware of their right to select hospitals for NHS procedures. Nearly half of respondents had no knowledge of this choice, while a quarter were unfamiliar with the option of receiving treatment in private hospitals as an NHS patient. The findings highlight the need for increased awareness campaigns and GP guidance to empower patients and reduce NHS waiting lists.
Read more »
NHS in Crisis as Hospitals Struggle with Surge in IllnessesThe National Health Service (NHS) in England is facing unprecedented strain as hospitals across the country, including Merseyside, grapple with a surge in patients suffering from various illnesses. Health officials warn of a potentially worst-ever flu season compounded by rising cases of COVID-19, RSV, and norovirus. This overwhelming pressure has led to reports of long ambulance queues, chaotic emergency rooms, and a declared critical incident at the Wirral University Teaching Hospital Trust.
Read more »
PFI Hospitals Risk Creating Two-Tier NHSProfessor Anne Stafford warns that continued NHS underfunding and poor maintenance of non-PFI hospitals could lead to a two-tier system in England.
Read more »