Multiple NHS services declare critical incidents

New Year’s Eve revellers in Wales could help the country’s ambulance service, which has declared a critical incident after a huge increase in demand, by drinking in moderation this evening, its boss has said.

There were more than 340 calls waiting to be answered when the incident was declared on Monday evening, according to the service.

At the same time, more than half of the Trust’s ambulance vehicles were waiting to hand over patients outside hospitals.

Patients were waiting for “many hours” for an ambulance as a result, according to the service.

Walsall NHS Healthcare Trust in the West Midlands has also now declared a critical incident.

Walsall Manor Hospital is “seeing increased numbers of people requiring hospital care – predominantly with respiratory conditions,” said chief executive Will Roberts.

Jason Killens, the Welsh Ambulance Service’s chief executive, issued a plea ahead of New Year’s celebrations.

“People out celebrating can help us tonight by of course, having a good time, but drinking sensibly, eating before they go out and looking after their friends,” he said.

Mr Killens said the increased demand was “a result of flu and COVID and other respiratory viruses circulating through the winter.”

“What we have seen in the last 24 to 48 hours is an acute accumulation of those pressures,” he added.

Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Mr Killens apologised to patients “who waited too long yesterday and continue to wait this morning”.

“The pressure for us continues this morning, we had a very busy day yesterday,” he said, adding he expected waits to continue through until Tuesday evening.

‘Quad-demic’ hits UK health services

The Welsh Ambulance Service covers three million-plus people across Wales.

“It is very rare that we declare a critical incident, but with significant demand on our service and more than 90 ambulances waiting to hand over patients outside of hospital, our ability to help patients has been impacted,” said Stephen Sheldon, the organisation’s head of service.

He urged the public to only call 999 in the event of “a life-threatening emergency”.

“That’s a cardiac arrest, chest pain or breathing difficulties, loss of consciousness, choking, or catastrophic bleeding,” Mr Sheldon added.

“If it’s not a life-threatening emergency, then it’s important you use one of the many alternatives to 999, starting with the symptom checkers on our NHS 111 Wales website as well as your GP, pharmacist, and Minor Injuries Unit.”

Mr Roberts from Walsall’s NHS trust said his teams are working to “support patients who can be cared for at home and to help patients to be safely discharged where appropriate.”

“We would remind people of the importance of their flu, COVID-19 and RSV vaccinations, and the services that are here to help them such as local Pharmacies which can give advice on a range of illnesses,” he said.

Read more:
A&E departments ‘full to bursting’
How London Ambulance Service prepares for its busiest night
What is the ‘quad-demic’ and how can you protect yourself?

Hospitals around the UK are already struggling with a “quad-demic” of flu, COVID-19, RSV and norovirus, as well as preparing for a busy New Year’s Eve.

Data released by the NHS showed an average of 1,861 patients with flu were in hospital every day in the first week of December – a 70% increase from the previous week when there were 1,099 patients.

The number was also 3.5 times higher than the same time last year.