The Trust that runs hospitals in North Lancashire and South Cumbria says it's taking additional steps to maintain safe services and cope with growing demands.
It's raised its internal response to the highest level, ‘Opel 4’, due to pressures being faced.
In a statement, the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, who locally are responsible for the Royal Lancaster Infirmary, Queen Victoria in Morecambe, as well as other hospitals including Furness General and the Westmorland General, said: ‘’[This measure] allows us to be able to take additional steps to maintain safe services for our patients and help us cope with the growing demands.
‘’Declaring OPEL 4 enables us to bring all our partners in Lancashire and South Cumbria together to focus on one thing - the safe and timely care of all our patients.
‘’As always, patient safety must take priority and we need to take action to make sure that those who are more clinically urgent get the help they need as quickly as possible.
‘’We have been liaising with our Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Local Authority colleagues over the course of today to agree immediate actions to be taken to help reduce the pressures on our services.’’
‘’If you are not contacted directly, please continue to turn up for your appointment. Please also contact the number on your appointment letter if you are no longer able to make your appointment so it can be reallocated to another patient.
‘’Our teams continue to work exceptionally hard; and we would like to reassure our patients and the public that despite the challenges faced, essential services remain fully open for anyone who needs them so if you require urgent medical help, please continue to come forward.
‘’The public can help us manage these periods of demand by ensuring they are seeking help from the most appropriate health services, and only attending A&E for serious accidents and emergencies.
‘’If you are unwell, visit NHS 111 online for 24/7 advice about the most appropriate care for your needs.’’
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