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Isle of Wight NHS Trust declares critical incident

  • 🩺 The Isle of Wight NHS Trust has declared a critical incident
  • 🩺 Hospital and emergency departments are now full on the island
  • 🩺 The Trust is calling on the local community to help this situation

8:07pm

Thank you for joining our live coverage of the critical incident that has been declared by Isle of Wight NHS Trust.

Please continue to visit our website to find all the latest news and updates.

This live blog will soon close.

7:34pm

Recently, Winchester Hospital's A&E and maternity services have come under threat of closure. 

You can find the latest updates here: https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/23972190.bid-save-winchester-e-amid-fears-closure-hit-eastleigh/

7:25pm

Steve Parker, Medical Director added: “To protect the life-saving services we provide we are asking for everyone’s support including local GPs, care homes and island residents.

“You can help by visiting 111 online or speaking to your pharmacist, GP or practice nurse in the first instance for support with coughs, colds, rashes and diarrhoea and vomiting.

"It’s also really important to keep warm and mobile and drink plenty of fluids as the weather gets colder.

"We are here if you need us but please be patient as our teams are doing all they can.”

 

7:13pm

Dr Lara Alloway, Chief Medical Officer at the NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (ICB) said: “We are working closely with the Isle of Wight NHS Trust and are doing all we can to reduce the pressure on the hospital and its staff.

"We are urging family and friends to help however they can to get people home and out of hospital as soon as possible.”

7:06pm

Victoria Lauchlan, Interim Chief Operating Officer at the Trust said: “As soon as a person is medically ready to leave hospital, they should be discharged to their place of residence. 

"Every time one patient leaves hospital it helps patients move through the hospital to ensure they get the care they need.

"This means the emergency department is free for those that need lifesaving care, and ambulances are able to quickly return to the community to provide emergency support to people.”

7:00pm

The Trust said that patients should speak to the team of healthcare professionals on the wards about how they can help.

If you can collect your loved ones and not rely on the hospital to organise patient transport, this can reduce delays, and be a better experience for your relative or friend.

6:57pm

The Trust is calling on the local community to help this situation by taking their relatives or friends home.

The hospital said that if patients are able to provide care and support from home - they should in the interest of freeing up beds for those that need them.

6:55pm

The Trust said that demand for emergency and urgent care is far outstripping the capacity the hospital has.

It also stated that people are waiting a long time for a bed in the emergency department.

6:44pm

On Tuesday, December 12, the Isle of Wight NHS Trust declared a critical incident as the hospital and emergency department are full. 

The Trust said it declared the incident to protect patient safety.


 

6:43pm

Good evening and welcome to our live blog.

Here you will find the latest update on the critical incident that has been declared by Isle of Wight NHS Trust. 

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