Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) has declared a critical incident as it struggles to cope with a significant surge in demand for its services, particularly in the Accident & Emergency (A&E) department. The trust reported that patients have been experiencing excessively long waits, with some being forced to remain in hospital corridors. The increasing pressure on hospital services has made it necessary for NUH to prioritize patient safety through this critical incident declaration.

Andrew Hall, the Chief Operating Officer at NUH, expressed regret about the situation, explaining that efforts to manage the high demand had been unsuccessful in alleviating the pressures faced. He noted the importance of ensuring patient safety amidst these challenges and highlighted the trust's plan to discharge approximately 200 patients who can safely return home by the end of the day. This initiative aims to relieve some of the overcrowding and improve service delivery.

Mr. Hall also issued an apology to patients for their long wait times, emphasizing the urgency of the situation and calling for families and caregivers to help by encouraging patients who are fit to leave the hospital to do so. The declaration of a critical incident underscores the ongoing issues faced by healthcare providers in the UK, particularly during times of heightened demand, raising concerns about patient care and the sustainability of hospital operations in the region.