Critical incident declared at five hospitals due to 'exceptionally high flu cases' with patients facing 50 hour waits

7 January 2025, 10:23 | Updated: 7 January 2025, 14:32

Five major hospitals and some ambulance services have declared critical incidents due to 'exceptionally high' flu cases with patients facing waits of up to 50 hours in one A&E.

Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has declared a "critical incident" due to "exceptionally high demand" on services and urged people to only go to A&E in a genuine medical emergency.

The hospital said it was "extremely busy" amid a rising number of patients with flu and other respiratory conditions, prompting Liverpool Riverside Labour MP Kim Johnson to call on the government to come up with a plan to increase NHS funding.

Critical incidents have also been declared in the East Midlands, Hampshire, Devon and Cornwall.

Read more: Flu warning issued as 'quad-demic' surge sees Covid-era masks return to hospitals across Britain

Read more: NHS Cornwall declares critical incident as flu cases quadruple and experts warn of 'dangerous' weekend ahead

• Health Secretary Wes Streeting will join Shelagh Fogarty later for Call the Cabinet, and you can ask him your questions here and watch live on Global Player from 3pm

Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust also said there was a "critical incident" at Basingstoke and Winchester hospitals due to "sustained pressures" while University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust also declared a critical incident because of "significant and rising demand for hospital care".

The East Midlands Ambulance Service - which covers Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire - has declared the first critical incident in its history due to a combination of "significant patient demand, pressure within hospitals and flooding".

A spokesperson for Liverpool University Hospitals Trust said: "We have a comprehensive plan in place and are taking all the necessary actions to manage the challenging circumstances facing patients and colleagues currently.

"We are working with partner organisations to ensure those that are medically fit can leave hospital safely and at the earliest opportunity.

"Colleagues are working incredibly hard to treat people as quickly as possible, however, some people will experience longer waits while we treat our sickest patients."

They added: "We have seen an increasing number of people with flu and respiratory illnesses in our emergency departments in recent weeks."

The level of flu hospitalisations in England have quadrupled in a month, NHS figures revealed last week.

Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said they had no extra capacity to admit more patients.

Hospital bosses said factors included a high admission rate, a high number of infectious patients requiring isolation, and a low discharge rate.

Julie Dawes, chief nurse for Hampshire Hospitals, says: “This year has seen an unusually high level of winter viruses with a significant number of patients presenting with respiratory issues.

“There are two ways the public can help at this time; firstly, by only attending our Emergency Departments if acutely unwell or injured; and secondly by collecting loved ones who are ready for discharge.

"Our ward teams can help with medication or equipment so if you can, please have the conversation and collect loved ones; this will free up capacity for someone who in need of hospital treatment and care.

“Anyone suffering from a winter virus is advised to stay at home and rest, drink plenty of fluids, and use over-the-counter medication such as paracetamol or ibuprofen to assist with managing symptoms.”

Darryn Allcorn, Chief Nurse at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, said: “Our Emergency Department is there for life-threatening conditions and real emergencies. If you can use other services, such as NHS 111, pharmacy or your GP, please do so. If you do come to the Emergency Department and it is not an emergency or a life-threatening condition, then you may be redirected.

“It’s really important we make sure that the sickest patients are prioritised and that we keep our services flowing for those who are in greatest need. Therefore, we ask that at this time unless you are a carer or if the patient who is coming to the hospital is particularly distressed, that those who accompany patients do not to come into the Emergency Department. We need the seating spaces for patients to sit down and be comfortable.

“We ask that patients, visitors and families be kind to one another and continue to treat staff with respect during this extremely busy period.”

Jason Killens, Chairman of the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, told LBC News: "The impact across the UK on ambulance services is quite significant from the pressure.

"We see ambulances delayed, being unable to hand over their patients to the emergency department, of course then those ambulances aren't free to respond to patients in communities so we see delays in responding to 999 calls, and sometimes many calls waiting for a response.

"Ambulance services across the UK are increasingly providing advice for patients over the phone."

It comes after a Surrey hospital earlier warned people to only attend in cases of a "life-threatening emergency" after declaring a critical incident following the spread of winter viruses.