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Pressures on services of local hospitals laid bare as Trust declares highest level of alert

Monday, 22 January 2024 18:55

The NHS Trust that operates hospitals in Lancaster, Morecambe, Kendal and Barrow has declared its highest alert level due to pressure on emergency and urgent care services.

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust have declared an ‘OPEL 4’ emergency situation - the highest level of internal escalation.

The Trust – who are responsible for the management of the Royal Lancaster Infirmary, Westmorland General and Furness General, as well as the Queen Victoria in Morecambe and Ulverston’s Community Health Centre - say residents can play their part by seeking the help from the most appropriate health services, should they need it.

You’re asked that if you are unwell, visit NHS 111 online for 24/7 advice about the most appropriate care for your needs, and only attend A&E for serious accidents and emergencies.

This allows bosses to be able to take additional steps to maintain safe services for patients and help staff cope with the growing demands, to try and ensure the safe and timely care of all of their patients.

A spokesperson for UHMBT said: ‘’As always, patient safety must take priority and we need to take action to make sure that those who are more clinically urgent get the help they need as quickly as possible.

‘’If you are not contacted directly, please continue to turn up for your appointment. Please also contact the number on your appointment letter if you are no longer able to make your appointment so it can be reallocated to another patient.

‘’Our teams continue to work exceptionally hard; and we would like to reassure our patients and the public that in spite of the challenges faced, essential services remain fully open for anyone who needs them so if you require urgent medical help, please continue to come forward.

‘’The public can help us manage these periods of demand by ensuring they are seeking help from the most appropriate health services, and only attending A&E for serious accidents and emergencies. If you are unwell, visit NHS 111 online for 24/7 advice about the most appropriate care for your needs.’’

There are some immediate actions being taken by Trust teams and our partners, including utilising all alternative options to using Emergency Departments, including Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC), Surgical Emergency Ambulatory Care (SEAC), the Gynaecology Assessment Unit (GAU), and the Priority Admission Discharge Unit (PADU).

Community colleagues will be focusing on admission avoidance activities, while pharmacies will support discharge lounges to enable faster transfer of patients from ward beds to create extra emergency capacity.

There will also be the cancellation of non-essential meetings and activities in order to redirect clinician time to patient facing activities, while support with be sought from local place-based partners and Integrated Care Board (ICB) systems.

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