Bosses at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary say they’re seeing unprecedented demand on their accident and emergency services.
The RLI has been escalated to Opel Level 4 on the system the NHS uses to grade demand, which means patient safety could be compromised.
Last week, there were 1,391 attendances at the emergency department, which the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust said was the highest number on record, and more than at the peak of the coronavirus pandemic.
More than 80 patients were seen in the emergency department on Monday and Tuesday which was not a safe situation.
A spokesperson for the Trust said: "The safety of our patients and colleagues is vital; and the decision to declare OPEL 4 acknowledges we were at a point where we cannot continue in the way we are due to the increased risk of harm.
"Our teams continue to work exceptionally hard and we would like to reassure our patients and the public that in spite of 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," it said.
The trust said they had taken immediate action to cope with demand, including:
- Utilising all alternative options to the emergency department, including same-day emergency care and the priority admission discharge unit
- Community colleagues focusing on admission avoidance activities
- Cancelling non-essential meetings/activities to redirect clinician time to patient facing activities
- Seeking support from local partners and the integrated care board
Patients should still turn up for appointments unless they have been contacted directly.
UPDATE: On Thursday December 5, a University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson said: "While we remain under pressure, we have taken the decision to de-escalate back to Operations Pressure Escalation Level (OPEL) 3. This decision was made because the pressure at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary has reduced to a level which, while still significant, does not meet the national OPEL 4 criteria.
"We would like to thank the public for their patience and understanding, and our colleagues who have been under significant pressure during this period."
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