Critical incident declared at QEQM

Today (12 January), East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust has declared a critical incident due to sustained pressures at the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital, Margate.

This decision has not been taken lightly. Our hospitals are experiencing exceptionally high demand, driven by a continued high admission rate and a large number of patients with winter illnesses and respiratory viruses. As a result, beds across our hospitals are currently full and attendance at our emergency departments is extremely high, meaning there is very limited capacity to admit further patients who need acute care.

Attending our emergency departments for non-life-threatening conditions will result in an extremely long wait. If you need medical assistance, please consider using alternative services such as NHS 111, your GP, local pharmacy or an urgent treatment centre. Advice and guidance are also available at 111.nhs.uk.

We are asking for the public’s support to help us protect care for those who need it most:

·  Only attend the emergency department for a life-threatening illness or injury.

·  If a friend or loved one is ready for discharge, please collect them at the earliest opportunity if you are able to do so.

As part of the critical incident response, we are working closely with partners across the health and care system to safely discharge patients who no longer require acute hospital care and to reduce avoidable admissions.

·  We are currently reviewing patients scheduled for planned procedures and appointments. Unless you hear from us directly, please assume your procedure or appointment will go ahead as planned.

·  Anyone suffering from a winter virus is advised to stay at home, rest, drink plenty of fluids, and use over-the-counter medications such as paracetamol or ibuprofen to help manage symptoms.

·  Due to the high levels of winter illness in the community, from tomorrow (Tuesday 13 January) we will be temporarily stopping visiting on certain wards at QEQM to protect patients. We understand this is difficult and appreciate your support and understanding.

The wards and areas not affected by this are children’s, critical care units and maternity areas. If your loved one is at the end of their life or needs specific support we will ensure you are able to visit and this will be agreed by the ward manager. Virtual visiting will be available for all patients.

Sarah Hayes, Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer at East Kent Hospitals, said: “Our teams are working tirelessly under immense pressure to provide safe, compassionate care to every patient who comes through our doors.

“We are doing everything possible to increase capacity for urgent and emergency care and would like to thank our staff, patients, and the public for their continued support, understanding, and patience during this challenging period.

“It’s important that anyone who needs urgent medical help continues to come forward – using 999 in life-threatening emergencies and 111 for other urgent care. Anyone who is unsure about where to go should call the NHS on 111, or visit 111.nhs.uk for advice.”