Scarborough Hospital declares major incident in response to demand

York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has declared a major incident at Scarborough Hospital in response to unprecedented demand for its services.

Mike Proctor, Deputy Chief Executive at York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “While the winter months are traditionally a busy time for all hospitals across the country, we have been experiencing an unprecedented surge in demand for our services and we have today reached a point in Scarborough where we have needed to enact our major incident plan.

“Doing this enables us to increase our focus on our most ill patients and step up our management of our resources to ensure that we are seeing, treating and admitting those who most need our care. 

“Today in particular we have had people waiting in the emergency department before being admitted to a bed, and we need to make sure that our hospital beds and resources are saved for those who need them most.

“We have also had to postpone some planned surgery and other procedures, and we apologise to those patients affected by this.

“Both York and Scarborough Hospitals will continue to be here to help anyone who needs urgent assessment and care, however the public can really help us by only coming to the emergency departments in an emergency.

“Taking the appropriate action to treat your condition, which might mean contacting your GP or attending a pharmacy, walk-in centre or Minor Injuries Unit, will help to ensure that we are able to treat those patients whose need is greatest.

“Our staff are working extremely hard to maintain these services and are to be commended for continuing to provide excellent care in spite of the pressures they are facing.”

The Trust has been working closely with its partner organisations, briefing them on the high demand for its hospital and accident and emergency services.

The major incident status will be reviewed regularly and will be stood down as soon as it is possible to do so. 

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05 January 2015