Healthcare services under extreme pressure | News

The health and care system is experiencing extremely high levels of demand and all hospitals across West Yorkshire are under significant pressure. All ward teams at Mid Yorkshire Hospitals are extremely stretched due to extra patients being accommodated and elective care which can safely be delayed has been postponed.

Emergency departments have very high volumes of attendances resulting in over-crowding, long waits to be seen and delays for people requiring admission. Health and care organisations are working closely together to respond to the situation.

Trudie Davies, Chief Operating Officer at the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust said:

This is always an extremely busy time of year for health and care services. Demand has been very high for some weeks now. Currently every cubicle in our emergency department is full and we have very high numbers of people waiting to be seen. Our priority is to provide safe care for the sickest patients and people who have less serious conditions who turn up at A&E will face a very long wait.

Our advice is that it is really important patients who need urgent medical care continue to come forward, especially in emergency and life-threatening cases - when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk. However, people who do not require highly specialist care in a hospital setting will have a better, safer experience if they seek help from other services.

Our teams are working hard alongside our system partners to discharge the almost 200 patients we currently have in our hospitals, who have no clinical reason to be here. We are focussing on enabling these patients to get back to the place they call home as quickly as possible, providing them with the right support and care to be able to stay well at home.

We would ask the public to help us ensure that hospitals can focus on their sickest patients by seeking alternative support through NHS111 online or by calling NHS 111, where the situation is not life-threatening. NHS 111 is free and they can give urgent advice, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The NHS UK website has more information on when to call 999 and when to go to A&E.

On a final note, I would like to thank every single member of staff who has worked over the festive period to provide care to our patients. Everybody has done – and continues to do – an incredible job and I never cease to be amazed by the care and compassion shown to our patients and each other.”

There is a range of other local services available to meet your healthcare needs, including your GP practice. Patients can also get face-to-face appointments for urgent problems and book routine appointments in advance when your own GP practice is closed through the GP Care Wakefield service. The service is available between 5pm and 9.30pm on weekdays; 9am and 5pm on Saturdays; and 9am and 3pm on Sundays and bank holidays. All you need to do is contact your own practice telephone number, even if it is closed, as your call will then be diverted to GP Care Wakefield.

King Street Walk in Centre, Wakefield, is open seven days a week, 365 days a year, between the hours of 10am and 10pm. You can also call into your local pharmacy for expert advice on many common illnesses such as headaches, sore throats and aches and pains, and there is no need to book an appointment.

For information about a range of local services, including mental health support, please visit the Wakefield District Health and Care Partnership website.

The NHS.UK website has more information on when to call 999 and when to go to A&E.