Trust steps down from Critical Incident
Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust have now stepped down from Critical Incident, which was declared on yesterday due to the significant demand on emergency care services, and challenges discharging patients.
Whilst the hospital is no longer in an incident, services remain extremely busy and with very high temperatures expected to continue over the coming days, the Trust continues to ask the local community to consider alternatives to the Emergency Department where their need is not urgent, including using pharmacies, GP practices, walk-in centres, the NHS App and NHS 111 online for non-urgent health advice. This will help ensure the Trust can continue to care for those with the most urgent and serious care needs.
People are also advised to:
- Only use 999 and ED for serious or life-threatening conditions or medical emergencies (when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk).
- Continue to attend outpatient and other hospital appointments unless they are contacted by the Trust to reschedule.
- Support the discharge of loved ones who are ready to be discharged as quickly as possible.
Dr Ed Cetti, Chief Medical Officer for Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, said:
“Thank you to our staff, partners and local community for their continued support and understanding as our teams worked around the clock to maintain safe services for everyone who needs our care, especially in the exceptionally high temperatures.
"While we have now stood down from Critical Incident, our services remain extremely busy with continued high levels of demand and acuity, we therefore continue to urge our local community to utilise other NHS services such as 111, or nearby urgent treatment centres and minor injury units in Crawley, Caterham Dene and East Grinstead where possible, and only use the Emergency Department for life-threatening emergencies to ensure care is available for those who need it most.”
Alternative local NHS services available:
- Caterham MIU (for adults 18 and over): Situated at Caterham Dene Hospital, Church Road, Caterham, CR3 5RA. Operating hours are from 9am to 8pm, seven days a week. This facility, managed by qualified emergency nurse practitioners, offers a convenient alternative to A&E. It provides treatment for various minor injuries including cuts, sprains, fractures, bites, infections, eye problems, sports injuries, burns and scalds. X-ray services are available onsite.
- Crawley UTC: Located at Crawley Hospital, West Green Drive, Crawley, RH11 7DH. Open seven days a week from 7.30am to 10pm, this centre handles urgent but non-life-threatening injuries such as sprains, fractures, burns, head injuries and minor eye injuries.
- East Grinstead MIU: Located at Queen Victoria Hospital, Holtye Road, East Grinstead, RH19 3DZ. Open daily from 8am to 8pm. Run by experienced emergency practitioners, specialist nurse and paramedics, this unit caters to minor injuries and ailments in both adults and children over one year old. On-call services are also available for emergency referrals outside regular hours.
- NHS 111: Accessible 24/7, providing guidance for urgent medical needs that are not life-threatening, either online or via phone.
- Self-care: Minor ailments can often be managed at home or with assistance from local pharmacies.
- Pharmacies: Qualified pharmacists can offer advice on various health issues and provide medications for common illnesses. Where GP surgeries are closed, it's recommended that individuals manage common illnesses like coughs, colds and stomach upsets at home whenever possible, with guidance from a pharmacist or NHS 111. Community pharmacies under the pharmacy first service are now equipped to address seven common conditions, such as sinusitis, sore throats and urinary tract infections in women. To locate open pharmacies during the weekend or nearby alternatives, visit the NHS website (find a pharmacy).
Monday 22 June
Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust have declared a Critical Incident due to high levels of demand at its East Surrey Hospital site and on its emergency care services. The current situation is being exacerbated by the higher temperatures and challenges discharging patients.
Members of the public can help the Trust that ensure care is available for those with the most urgent and serious needs by seeking help from the most appropriate health services for their health condition:
- People should use pharmacies, GP practices, walk-in centres, the NHS App and NHS 111 online or by phone 24/7 for non-urgent health advice
- The public should only use 999 and the Emergency Department for serious or life-threatening conditions or medical emergencies (when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk).
- Unfortunately, we may need to reschedule some non-urgent appointments to accommodate those patients with the most urgent clinical need. People should however continue to attend appointments unless they are contacted by the Trust to reschedule. Cancer and our other most urgent operations will continue to be prioritised.
- 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.
Alternative local NHS services available:
- Caterham MIU (for adults 18 and over): Situated at Caterham Dene Hospital, Church Road, Caterham, CR3 5RA. Operating hours are from 9am to 8pm, seven days a week. This facility, managed by qualified emergency nurse practitioners, offers a convenient alternative to A&E. It provides treatment for various minor injuries including cuts, sprains, fractures, bites, infections, eye problems, sports injuries, burns and scalds. X-ray services are available onsite.
- Crawley UTC: Located at Crawley Hospital, West Green Drive, Crawley, RH11 7DH. Open seven days a week from 7.30am to 10pm, this centre handles urgent but non-life-threatening injuries such as sprains, fractures, burns, head injuries and minor eye injuries.
- East Grinstead MIU: Located at Queen Victoria Hospital, Holtye Road, East Grinstead, RH19 3DZ. Open daily from 8am to 8pm. Run by experienced emergency practitioners, specialist nurse and paramedics, this unit caters to minor injuries and ailments in both adults and children over one year old. On-call services are also available for emergency referrals outside regular hours.
- NHS 111: Accessible 24/7, providing guidance for urgent medical needs that are not life-threatening, either online or via phone.
- Self-care: Minor ailments can often be managed at home or with assistance from local pharmacies.
- Pharmacies: Qualified pharmacists can offer advice on various health issues and provide medications for common illnesses. Where GP surgeries are closed, it's recommended that individuals manage common illnesses like coughs, colds and stomach upsets at home whenever possible, with guidance from a pharmacist or NHS 111. Community pharmacies under the pharmacy first service are now equipped to address seven common conditions, such as sinusitis, sore throats and urinary tract infections in women. To locate open pharmacies during the weekend or nearby alternatives, visit the NHS website (find a pharmacy).
Dr Ed Cetti, Chief Medical Officer for Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, said:
"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.
"Please only attend East Surrey Hospital in a life-threatening emergency. If your condition isn’t life-threatening, please utilise other NHS services such as 111 online, your local pharmacy or GP, as well as nearby treatment centres at Crawley, Caterham Dene, Horsham and East Grinstead. This will help ensure emergency care is available to patients who need it most.”
Patients should only call 999 or come to ED in a life-threatening emergency.