Health care services on the Island are facing significant pressures and challenges which has resulted in the decision being made today to cancel scheduled inpatient surgery for the rest of this week.
Urgent and fast track cancer surgery is being reviewed on an individual, day by day basis. Day Surgery and Outpatient appointments are also being reviewed. This is to enable clinical staff to focus on emergency and medical services. Any patient whose surgery has been cancelled will be contacted by the hospital.
The pressure on services which has been building for a number of weeks is mainly due to the significant increase in the number of poorly patients attending the Emergency Department and needing to be admitted to hospital. The bed capacity in the hospital and in the community is also a factor, with a number of individuals who are medically fit to leave hospital unable to for a number of reasons.
In addition to this pressure a number of Junior Doctors will be participating in Industrial Action planned from 08:00 tomorrow (Wednesday 9th March) through to 08:00 on Friday 11th March. Whilst the Trust would like to reassure residents that emergency care will not be affected by the industrial action, given the current situation, patients attending the hospital for anything which is not considered an emergency, should expect a wait to be seen and are encouraged to seek advice via the NHS111 service.
Shaun Stacey, Chief Operating Officer, said:
“We have in place tried and tested plans to deal with a range of disruptions to services and our highest priority is to ensure the safety of our patients, regardless of Industrial Action. However, the number of people using urgent and emergency services is incredibly high and is continuing to rise.
“I cannot stress enough how important it is for Islanders to continue to only use the hospital’s A&E Department and Beacon Health Centre if they really need to and consider self care, pharmacies, online advice from NHS Choices at www.nhs.uk or phoning 111 for advice. It is important that advice is sought early before conditions deteriorate and require a visit to A&E.”
“We fully appreciate how frustrated people may feel at having to wait to be seen but we would ask for people to bear with us and respect those hospital staff who are working around the clock attending to some very sick patients who naturally take priority over those with less urgent needs. Patients whose appointment or surgery is being cancelled this week will be contacted by the hospital and we would ask that they avoid telephoning the switchboard but to wait to receive a call from us.”
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Where to get advice for non life-threatening cases
If you need medical help fast, but it’s not a 999 emergency, the NHS 111 service based at St Mary’s Hospital is able to advise and direct you to the service which can help. You can telephone 111, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The NHS Choices website is also available around the clock at www.nhs.uk.
The Beacon Centre at St Mary’s Hospital continues to be very busy, with some patients attending with sickness and diarrhoea. Doctors at the hospital are seeing people who have no symptoms other than a sickness bug, who could have requested advice from a more appropriate service such as a Pharmacy, their GP or NHS111 and left the Emergency Department for those who really need it.
Sickness bugs are highly contagious and could spread infection to already vulnerable patients within the hospital, as well as staff who are needed to care for patients. There is concern that those with active symptoms of vomiting who visit the Beacon Centre could spread the infection to acutely ill patients on hospital wards and in other departments. Anyone who has had symptoms of sickness and diarrhoea in the past 48 hours should, if possible, not visit patients, relatives or friends and everyone attending the hospital should use hand gel and hand washing facilities provided.
The Emergency Department at St Mary’s Hospital and 999 are for life-threatening emergencies.
Advice for older people
- If you’re feeling under the weather, get help as soon as possible. See your local pharmacist or get advice from nhs.uk/asap
- Speak to your friends, family or carer if you are feeling under the weather. They can help you to get advice from your local pharmacist or from nhs.uk/asap.
- If you have a bad cough, trouble breathing, a cold or sore throat, tell your friends, family or carer before it gets worse. The earlier, the better.
- Getting advice from your local pharmacist or by visiting nhs.uk/asap early may help prevent your bad cough, trouble breathing, cold, or sore throat from getting worse. The earlier, the better.
- Local pharmacists provide expert advice to help you manage your long-term condition or can even help you if you have a bad cough, trouble breathing, a cold or sore throat. They have longer opening hours than GP practices, and most have a private consultation area. They’ll also tell you if they think you should see a doctor.
For friends, families and carers of older people:
- If you are visiting or caring for an elderly relative or friend who is unwell, get advice from nhs.uk/asap or see your local pharmacist to help manage their care. The earlier, the better.
- If you know of an elderly relative or friend who has a bad cough, trouble breathing, a cold or sore throat, get advice from nhs.uk/asap or see your local pharmacist before it gets worse. The earlier, the better.
- If you’re feeling under the weather, get help as soon as possible. Get advice from nhs.uk/asap or see your local pharmacist.
- Local pharmacists provide expert advice to help you manage your long-term condition or can even help you if you have a bad cough, trouble breathing, a cold or sore throat. They have longer opening hours than GP practices, and most have a private consultation area. They’ll also tell you if they think you should see a doctor.
