Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is currently facing exceptionally high levels of occupancy, growing pressure on our services, and unprecedented attendances at our Emergency Department (A&E) at the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary, Wigan.
We are also seeing ongoing challenges in discharging our patients who are well enough to leave hospital, which has a direct impact on the number of beds available for patients who are in desperate need of medical attention.
As a result of this ongoing pressure, the Trust has escalated its position to a critical incident, which means WWL can take additional action to maintain safe services for our patients and tackle this increasing pressure.
The safety of our patients and our staff is always our top priority and we are working through who needs our help as quickly and as safely as we can. We must prioritise treatment for patients with life and limb-threatening conditions and injuries.
The Emergency Department is not always the first place to come when you require medical attention, and the alternatives out there can get people seen quicker and in a more appropriate place. If your condition is not life or limb-threatening, visit NHS 111 online in the first instance, contact your GP, contact a local pharmacy for advice, or visit an Urgent Treatment Centre, such as the one we have Leigh. If you are directed to alternative care facilities, please accept the advice of our teams, as this will be in your best interest, and they are prioritising patients who are in desperate need of medical attention.
We have a strong focus on safely discharging patients who are ready to leave our hospitals to make sure we can free up capacity for those who urgently require a hospital stay. Please help your loved ones if they are staying in hospital during the time they’re receiving care, through the discharge process and post-discharge when they need support at home.
Recovery at home is always the best option, and our discharge teams will continue to help patients and families to make sure the transition to home is safe.
WWL is asking members of the public to help by:
- Collecting family and friends from hospital as soon as they are ready to be discharged, to free up beds for those who need them.
- Visit NHS 111 online for health advice, or alternatively contact your local pharmacist or GP.
- Think about the most appropriate NHS service for your needs and to only call 999 in the event of a life-threatening illness or injury.
- Stay away from our hospitals if you have symptoms of or have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, unless it is an emergency.