Hundreds of patients are currently in hospital across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde with covid.
One in 15 Scots are now infected with the virus and 457 in-patients reported positive tests in the last 28 days, according to NHSGGC. This is up from 277 on 21 June.
Hospital occupancy is currently at 90.6%, which, added to covid impacts on staff, is placing significant pressures on emergency departments (EDs) and front door services.
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Senior clinicians have now warned the public to stay away from accident and emergency departments unless their condition is very urgent or life-threatening. The public is being urged to access unscheduled and emergency care through NHS inform, NHS24 and their GPs and pharmacists as patients face lengthy queues at A&Es across NHSGGC.
Dr Scott Davidson, Deputy Medical Director for Acute Services for NHSGGC highlighted the significant pressure facing frontline teams as they battle to look after patients in the most urgent need of care.
He said: “Our staff are working around the clock to make sure we continue to see the sickest patients coming to our A&Es but we’re over capacity. Services, quite frankly, are busier than ever, creating a bottleneck at the front door, and as a result, patients unfortunately are having to wait long periods of time to be treated.”
The clinician pointed patients to other pathways available to get treatment faster and to help support frontline teams by spreading demand.
“Unless it’s life-threatening or very urgent, do not come to A&E where you will likely wait many hours for treatment. Use your pharmacy, phone your GP or call 111 to access NHSGGC’s virtual A&E. You might still face a wait to use these services, but for most people, you’ll be seen much faster than if you come to A&E.”
NHSGGC said the pressures can be attributed in part to Covid-19, with more, sicker patients presenting at A&E as a result of holding off during the height of previous pandemic waves, coupled with high current staff absence due to the most recent spike in covid cases.
Dr Davidson added: “We’re in summer and our A&Es are comparable, if not busier than we’d normally expect during the winter months. The pressures run throughout the service, with beds unavailable for ongoing treatment within our hospitals as we manage many challenges.”
The senior clinician thanked staff across the service for their efforts in tackling the most recent challenges: “I am truly humbled by the ongoing efforts of our staff – they’re working incredibly hard in the face of these challenges. From care provided in the community - HCSPs, GPs, and pharmacists - through to all the staff across hospital and acute sites – everyone is having to manage different and new demands.”
He added: “It’s absolutely crucial for the public to help us now by really considering how they access urgent care. Do you need to come to A&E or could you be better served elsewhere?”
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