Hospital declares critical incident amid patient surge

A critical incident has been announced at a hospital, attributed to “extremely high patient numbers.” The North Bristol NHS Trust has urged the public to avoid the Southmead Hospital emergency department unless their condition necessitates “critical, life-saving care.” In a video shared on social media on Tuesday afternoon, the trust stated that individuals who present at the department could face waits exceeding eight hours to be seen, or might be redirected to a “more appropriate service elsewhere.” “Please consider using alternative services, such as your local pharmacy or NHS 111,” the trust advised. The trust indicated that the elevated patient numbers were affecting all areas of the hospital. “If your loved one is in hospital and ready to go home, please help them by supporting their discharge home as soon as possible.” “We are incredibly grateful to our staff for their continued efforts in caring for patients during this particularly busy time,” the trust further stated.