A number of A&E's in Merseyside have issued an urgent warning to people as patient waiting times soar.
Three NHS trusts including Liverpool University Hospitals, Wirral University Teaching Hospital, and St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals are asking people to only use A&E "in an emergency" due to "extremely busy" A&E departments. Liverpool and St Helens, and Knowsley both updated their patients on Twitter, while Wirral had a pop-up message on their website.
The message on Liverpool University Hospital's Twitter reads: "Our A&E departments are extremely busy - please only attend in an emergency. Consider alternatives; 111.nhs.uk, your local GP, local pharmacy, self-care or walk in centres."
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Liverpool University Hospital runs the A&E departments for The Royal Liverpool Hospital and Aintree Hospital, St Helens and Knowsley runs A&E at Whiston Hospital and St Helens Hospital, while Wirral runs Arrowe Park A&E. Unprecedented levels of attendance at A&E, on top of high numbers of patients already receiving care in the hospital, have led to soaring waits at the department for non-emergency patients.
The three hospital trusts have been displaying the same warning for the majority of this week, as A&E departments in the region have been overrun. Around 15 ambulances were seen queueing outside the entrance of Aintree Hospital's emergency department earlier this week, with patients being treated inside.
Inside the department and some of those paramedics can be seen tending to sick patients on rows of trolleys. Further inside the A&E area and people are lying on the floor in pain, waiting for hours to see a doctor.
In the new Royal Liverpool Hospital a 78-year-old man was lying on a trolley in a corridor for two days waiting to be moved into a bed on a ward.
Bosses at the Liverpool University Hospitals Trust which runs the Royal and Aintree say the demand on their A&E departments is now "unprecedented."
David Melia, Chief Nurse at the trust added: "Our hospitals are caring for a high number of patients who need to remain in a hospital bed. Patient safety remains our priority and our staff are doing everything possible to provide safe care to our patients. All patients in our emergency departments are triaged on arrival and their care is prioritised according to their clinical needs.
"Staff are present in all areas where patients are being cared for. Patients are reviewed at regular intervals and are appropriately monitored and supported, including offering them food and drink and pain relief if necessary."
He added: “Unless their condition is life-threatening, we are urging people not to attend the Emergency Department. Please use NHS 111 online for advice on the best service for your condition. Local Walk-in and Urgent Treatment Centres are open seven days a week, even on bank holidays and your local pharmacist can provide expert advice on a range of common conditions.”
A Wirral University Teaching Hospital spokesperson said: "As is being experienced nationally we are currently seeing unprecedented demand in the number of patients attending our Emergency Department.
“Staff are working tirelessly to provide the highest standards of care and ensure our sickest patients are seen first. While the safety of patients in the Emergency Department remains a top priority, we do have many patients who no longer need to be in hospital but who require ongoing community support. We are working extremely hard with regional teams, partner organisations and North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) to facilitate the safe transfer of patients in and timely discharge of patients out of our hospitals.
“While we do have robust plans in place to ensure the Trust can deliver all essential services during winter, we would ask patients to only attend the Emergency Department if it is an emergency. If it is not an emergency, there are other more appropriate alternatives such as contacting 111 for advice, visiting a pharmacy or speaking to a GP.”
Rob Cooper, managing director said: "We would urge everyone that, unless their condition is life-threatening, they should not attend the Emergency Department."
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