22 March 2022

High levels of community transmission of Covid-19 and increases in the number of people requiring care are affecting our staffing levels and putting significant pressure on our services at present. This is leading to long waits in our Emergency Department for treatment and admission to wards. 

In addition, a number of outbreaks in community settings have resulted in closure to admissions which places further pressure on our ability to discharge patients to their next place of care. We are therefore asking the public for patience when accessing services and for any support you can give to loved ones who are ready to be discharged home or to their next place of care. 

If you have a family member or loved on in hospital, please consider how you can help them recover and get home. You can do this by helping to provide support for things like eating and dressing if they require help. 

If your family member is fit to be discharged from hospital, please help us by being ready and available to collect them or support their discharge to their next place of care. Please understand that we cannot always offer the preferred next place of care in the location that you would choose, and we may ask you to compromise. Working with us to accept this means that we can keep the flow through our hospitals moving, and offer care to the maximum amount of people who need it. 

Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals Sarah Horan said: “We are asking the public to recognise that our staff are currently working under significant pressure and we are very grateful for your co-operation and patience at this time. 

“This includes accessing the right care in the right place, and if you are able to support the discharge of a loved one then please do so. 

“Our incredible staff continue to work tirelessly to treat the patients in their care across all our services and we are immensely grateful to them. Please continue to be polite and treat them with the respect they deserve. 

“We would ask you to please use healthcare services responsibly which will allow our staff to dedicate more time to those who need it most.” 

  • Please DO NOT phone 999 or attend the Emergency Department unless your condition is immediately life threatening such as suspected heart attack or stroke, severe breathing difficulties, severe bleeding or severe injury.
  • If you have a minor injury or urgent health problem which isn't life-threatening please call NHS 24 on 111 to be referred to the right care in the right place. 
  • You can get expert advice from services in the community such as;
    - Self-care using the self-help guides on NHS Inform for every day illnesses
    - Community pharmacy for advice about minor illnesses, treatments and medication
    - Optician for eye problems
    - Mental health Support from NHS 24 on 111 24/7 or Breathing Space on 0800 838  587 Mon – Thurs 6pm – 2am; Fri 6pm – Mon 6am