UPDATED: 3pm on Friday 23rd December 2022
The exceptional pressure on WWL’s services and high level of attendances at our Emergency Department (A&E) at the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in Wigan, continue to provide significant challenges.
Thanks to the incredible dedication and teamwork of the Trust’s staff and partner organisations across the Wigan Borough and Greater Manchester, progress is being made and WWL is no longer in a critical incident.
It has been a tremendous effort from everyone involved and we are extremely grateful to the public for your continuous understanding and support to WWL staff and each other during this very difficult time.
However, despite moving out of a critical incident, we must stress the importance of helping our teams to provide care for those who need it most, especially over the four-day Bank Holiday period.
Over the coming days and beyond, it is critical that you think very carefully about your healthcare choices, and equally as important to understand that our A&E is still open and if you or your loved one’s condition or injury is life or limb-threatening, you will be cared for. Our priority, as always, is the safety of our patients and staff.
As well as accessing the right level of healthcare for your needs, we must also reiterate our continuous focus on discharging as many patients as quickly and as safely as possible to make more space in our hospitals. You can help by being on hand to collect your loved ones as soon as they are well enough to return back to their place of normal residence. 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 and with the right support in place.
WWL continues to ask 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.
- Thinking about the most appropriate NHS service for your needs and to only call 999 in the event of a life-threatening illness or injury.
- Visiting NHS 111 online for health advice, or alternatively contact your local pharmacist or GP, or visit a local urgent treatment centre or walk-in centre.
- Being prepared and ensuring you stock up on over-the-counter medicines and collect your repeat prescription ahead of the bank holiday, so you don’t run out of your regular medication.
- Staying 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.
- Keep yourself protected and boost your immunity with COVID-19 and flu vaccinations, visit www.nhs.uk/vaccinations to see if you are eligible and to book a vaccination as soon as possible.