Hospital Maintains Critical Incident Status Amid High Patient Volume

Critical incident measures persist for a second consecutive day at a city hospital, attributed to “high patient numbers.” The North Bristol NHS Trust has, for the second day, advised the public to avoid Southmead Hospital’s emergency department unless their condition necessitates “critical, life-saving care.” All areas of the hospital have been affected. A spokesperson for the trust cautioned that individuals might face waiting times exceeding eight hours for emergency care and recommended utilizing alternative services where feasible. “Please do not attend our emergency department unless you require critical, lifesaving care,” the spokesperson stated. “If your loved one is in hospital and ready to go home, please help them by supporting their discharge home as soon as possible.” They further expressed, “We are incredibly grateful to our staff for their continued efforts in caring for patients during this particularly busy time.” The trust has encouraged individuals to contact their local pharmacy or NHS 111 for injuries that are not life-threatening. For updates, BBC Bristol can be followed on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story contributions can be sent via email or WhatsApp at 0800 313 4630. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content of external sites and details its approach to external linking.