The Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in Wigan continues to remain in a 'critical incident' for a second day amid 'immense pressure' on services.
The Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust announced that the hospital's A&E department was 'full' following 'unprecedented attendances' and 'growing pressures' on services on Wednesday (February 1).
In response, the trust raised the hospital's position to a critical incident, which means it can take additional action to maintain safe services for patients in a bid to try and tackle increasing pressures.
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The hospital was also facing 'ongoing challenges' in discharging patients who are now well enough to leave hospital, the trust said. A spokesperson for the trust confirmed that the critical incident remained in place at the hospital on Thursday afternoon.
In a statement on Wednesday evening, the trust read: "Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is currently facing exceptionally high levels of occupancy, growing pressure on our services, and unprecedented attendances at our Emergency Department (A&E) at the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary, Wigan.
"We are also seeing ongoing challenges in discharging our patients who are well enough to leave hospital, which has a direct impact on the number of beds available for patients who are in desperate need of medical attention.
"As a result of this ongoing pressure, the Trust has escalated its position to a critical incident, which means WWL can take additional action to maintain safe services for our patients and tackle this increasing pressure.
"The safety of our patients and our staff is always our top priority and we are working through who needs our help as quickly and as safely as we can. We must prioritise treatment for patients with life and limb-threatening conditions and injuries."
The trust went on to remind people that A&E is 'not always the first place to come' for people requiring medical attention and urged people to try and seek alternatives if their condition is not 'life or limb-threatening', with people able to visit NHS 111 online, contact their GP or pharmacy, or an Urgent Treatment Centre.
"We have a strong focus on safely discharging patients who are ready to leave our hospitals to make sure we can free up capacity for those who urgently require a hospital stay. Please help your loved ones if they are staying in hospital during the time they’re receiving care, through the discharge process and post-discharge when they need support at home," the statement added.
"Recovery at home is always the best option, and our discharge teams will continue to help patients and families to make sure the transition to home is safe."
The trust asked members of the public to help by collecting family and friends from hospital as soon as they are ready to be discharged, to free up beds and visiting NHS 111 online for health advice.
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