Lincs: Plans are now in place to deal with the high patient demand at Lincolnshire hospitals

Major incidents were declared at a number of hospitals in England as medical staff struggle to cope with patient numbers.

United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust admitted 583 more people over the two-week Christmas and New Year period than the same time last year.

Michelle Rhodes, Director of Operations, said: “Lincolnshire hospitals are still busy.”

“There are still high pressures being experienced across the NHS and social care but we continue to manage the situation and deliver quality care.”

“The quality and safety of patient care is the Trust’s number one priority.”

“We are working together with partners to mitigate some of these pressures and move back towards a more normal situation.”

“This includes using community bed capacity for patients who are aren’t ill enough to be in hospital but aren’t well enough to be discharged home.”

“Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust will change the use of Rochford unit at Pilgrim for patients waiting for community support as a temporary measure.”

“The unit will help discharge predominately elderly frail people, who have been assessed fit for discharge from United Lincolnshire Hospital NHS Trust sites around Lincolnshire and are awaiting short term community social care support at home.”

“Our staff and our heath community partners’ staff have been fantastic.”

“They are coping well during this difficult time.”

“It’s thanks to the hard work of staff which has kept services functioning and patients safe.”

“We ask people to only attend A and E with serious or life threatening illnesses and to seek alternative support for on-going problems or minor injuries.”

“Those who attend with minor conditions will still be treated, but potentially will have long waits.”

“We urge everyone to think twice before they go to A and E, if it’s not serious or life threatening, you shouldn’t be there.”

“Many illnesses can be better treated by visiting your local pharmacy, calling emergency and urgent care services helpline 111, visiting your local GP, or GP out of hours services, or attending a walk in centre or a minor injuries unit.”

Alternative services include NHS 111 which is available 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year and is free when you telephone 111 and there is a Walk-In Centre in Monks Road, Lincoln amd there is a Minor Injury Units at John Coupland Hospital in Ropery Road, Gainsborough.