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Isle Of Wight NHS Trust Asks For Local Community Support As It Declares Critical Incident

The Isle of Wight NHS Trust has declared a critical incident to protect patient safety as the hospital and emergency department are full.

Demand for emergency and urgent care is far outstripping the capacity the hospital has, and people are waiting a long time for a bed in the emergency department.

The Trust is calling on the local community to help this situation by taking their relatives or friends home from the hospital as soon as they are declared ready to leave, if they are able to provide care and support from home.

Victoria Lauchlan, Interim Chief Operating Officer at the Trust, said:

“As soon as a person is medically ready to leave hospital, they should be discharged to their place of residence. 

"Every time one patient leaves hospital it helps patients move through the hospital to ensure they get the care they need.

"This means the emergency department is free for those that need lifesaving care, and ambulances are able to quickly return to the community to provide emergency support to people.”

Steve Parker, Medical Director, added:

“To protect the life-saving services we provide we are asking for everyone’s support including local GPs, care homes and island residents.

“You can help by visiting 111 online or speaking to your pharmacist, GP or practice nurse in the first instance for support with coughs, colds, rashes and diarrhoea and vomiting.

"It’s also really important to keep warm and mobile and drink plenty of fluids as the weather gets colder."

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