UK Hospital’s Response to Flu Surge: Declaring a Critical Incident for Patient Safety
Several hospitals across the UK have declared critical incidents due to an exceptional surge in flu cases, leading to unprecedented strain on emergency departments and inpatient wards.
Patients have experienced extended wait times, with some facing delays of up to 50 hours in Accident & Emergency (A&E) departments.
The affected hospitals include:
- Royal Liverpool University Hospital: Declared a critical incident due to “exceptionally high” demand on A&E and a significant number of flu cases.
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust: Reported over 300 emergency attendances in a single day, with nearly 200 patients requiring inpatient care. The trust is particularly seeing high numbers of older patients with respiratory problems exacerbated by the cold weather.
- Hospitals in Birmingham, Hampshire, and Cornwall: Also facing severe strain, with high numbers of flu as well as COVID-19, RSV, and norovirus cases.
In response to the crisis, hospitals have implemented measures such as:
- Raising admission thresholds to prioritize the most seriously ill patients.
- Encouraging mask-wearing within hospital premises.
- Expediting patient discharges to free up beds.
The public is urged to visit A&E only in genuine emergencies and to utilize alternative healthcare services, such as general practitioners or NHS 111, for less severe conditions.
Health officials emphasize the importance of vaccinations against winter viruses and encourage eligible individuals to get vaccinated to help alleviate the burden on healthcare facilities.