Critical incident at QEQM stood down, but the hospital is still extremely busy
Today (20 January), East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust has stood down the internal critical incident at Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital, Margate, but the hospital remains at the next highest level of alert, short of declaring a critical incident.
This means the hospital still has fewer beds available than usual and we are continuing to ask local people to keep our emergency departments free for those needing treatment for life-threatening conditions.
We are also still caring for many patients with norovirus symptoms.
The hospital is now at ‘critical incident standby’ status, which means we are continuing to work closely with partners across the health and care system to safely discharge patients who no longer need acute hospital care and to care for people in the community, rather than bring them to hospital, where it is safe to do so.
Planned procedures and appointments are still under review, and we are asking patients to please continue to attend your appointment as planned unless we contact you to reschedule your appointment.
Sarah Hayes, Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, said: “Our staff and partners have worked exceptionally hard to improve the situation at Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital, but the hospital is still exceptionally busy.
“The support of local people has made a real difference. We have seen the positive impact of people choosing the right services for their needs and using alternative health services such as NHS 111, GPs, pharmacies and urgent treatment centres where appropriate.
“Please continue to help us by only using the emergency department for emergencies or serious accidents. For all other health concerns, please call 111 first so you can be directed to the best service for you.”
How you can continue to help
If your relative is due to be discharged from hospital and needs to be collected, please do so as early as possible. This will help our teams and free up a hospital bed for someone waiting to be admitted.
Only call 999 or attend ED for serious accidents and for life threatening emergencies.
Where the situation is not life-threatening, alternative support will be available through NHS111 online or by calling 111.
Urgent Treatment Centres (UTC) treat injuries including sprains, strains, suspected fractures, bites, cuts, scalds and other non-emergency conditions.
Pharmacies can help with allergies, constipation, headaches and many other ailments, and can provide NHS medicines for seven common conditions through the Pharmacy First service. Depending on your age, this includes Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) in women, earache, shingles, sinusitis, impetigo and sore throats.
Please do not visit your loved ones in hospital if you have any flu or other respiratory illness symptoms - please wait until you are better to visit them.
You can find more information on available health services on the Kent and Medway NHS website Choosing the right service | ICS
Important information for visitors
We have re-opened our wards for visiting but we ask visitors to help us protect patients from norovirus infection:
If you have symptoms of any viruses, including flu and tummy bugs, please do not visit loved ones at our hospitals until you have been symptom-free for 48 hours.
Please do not visit if you have spent time with anyone with symptoms
Please clean your hands when you arrive at the ward/department and when you leave
Please only visit one patient
If it is possible for only one person to visit at a time, please do so
If it is possible, please avoid bringing children to visit loved ones at this time.
If the person you want to visit is in an affected bay (a section of the ward where some patients are still experiencing norovirus symptoms), please do not visit if you are vulnerable to infection or if you care for, or live with, someone who is vulnerable. If the person you want to visit is ill with norovirus, please do not visit them until they have been symptom-free for 48 hours.
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.