Hospital declares critical incident in hot weather

A Surrey hospital has declared a critical incident due to high levels of demand on its emergency care services, exacerbated by high temperatures.

East Surrey Hospital in Redhill is having to reschedule some non-urgent appointments to accommodate patients with the most urgent clinical need, Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust said.

A critical incident is declared when a service is under extreme pressure that threatens a hospitals ability to deliver safe and effective care.

Dr Ed Cetti, chief medical officer at the trust, urged patients to only attend the hospital in a life-threatening emergency.

Dr Cetti added: "In response to the high levels of demand at East Surrey Hospital, alongside the need to act swiftly to ensure patients continue to receive safe, high-quality care, we have declared a critical incident.

"Our teams are working exceptionally hard to minimise disruption and we would like to reassure our patients and the public that despite the current challenges, essential services remain fully open for anyone who needs them, so if you require urgent medical help, please continue to come forward."

The trust urged the public to use pharmacies, GP practices, walk-in centres, the NHS App and NHS 111 online or by phone 24/7 for non-urgent health advice.

It said that cancer and other most urgent operations will continue to be prioritised and urged people to attend appointments unless contacted to reschedule.

"If you have a loved one who is ready to be discharged from hospital, we would be very grateful for your support in enabling that discharge as quickly and safely as possible," it added.

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