An NHS hospital trust has declared a critical incident with demand for emergency response reportedly "outstripping" the capacity available.
Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, which runs Queen Alexandra Hospital, has announced its capacity will only be used for life-threatening conditions or injuries.
Furthermore, the emergency department is operating a strict redirection to alternative services where necessary.
The decision by the trust has been made to "protect patient safety", Hampshire Live reports.
A full statement on the trust's Facebook page reads: "We have declared a critical incident this morning to prioritise all capacity for emergency response only to protect patient safety.
"Demand for an emergency response is far outstripping the capacity available in Portsmouth and South East Hampshire at this time.
"Our capacity will only be used for life-threatening conditions or injuries and our Emergency Department (ED) is operating a strict redirection to alternative services where necessary.
"We are working closely with our partners across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight who are also taking all critical incident actions to provide capacity in all services.
"Thank you for all your support during this difficult and busy time."
Last winter during a spike in Covid cases, the Mirror reported on a number of health trust declaring "critical incidents" at their hospitals due to “extreme and unprecedented” staff shortages caused by the spread of Omicron.
Morecambe Bay NHS Trust and Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust were among those that announced in the that they are delivering “compromised care” due to the crisis.
Morecambe Bay NHS Trust manages Westmorland General Hospital in Kendal, the Royal Lancaster Infirmary in Lancaster and Furness General Hospital in Barrow-in-Furness.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme in January, Dr Sakthi Karunanithi, public health director for Lancashire County Council, said the county was at "the foothills" of an Omicron wave.
