By Lincolnshire hospitals declare ‘critical incident’
In a leaked document sent to hospital staff, United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust has declared a ‘critical incident’.
The document, which was sent to staff at hospitals in Lincoln, Grantham, Boston and Louth, claimed the trust was ‘unable to maintain safe staffing levels’ causing ‘compromised care’.
This comes as Omicron case numbers continue to increase across the nation.
The document continues: “An internal critical incident was declared across the Trust late yesterday and continues into today, due to extreme and unprecedented workforce shortages meaning that we are unable to maintain safe staffing levels.
“This is resulting in compromised care across our hospitals, and an inability to maintain a number of key pathways, including those around stroke and cardiac care.”
The incident came to light after the document was published yesterday in The Sunday Times.
Absences are said to have increased by 31% in the space of just one week, with officials fearing that the service could become quickly overwhelmed.
In a statement issued last night, the trust’s medical director Dr Colin Farquharson said: “As a result of significant staffing pressures due to absence related to Covid-19, we are having to take additional steps to maintain services.
“Our staff continue to work exceptionally hard and we would like to reassure our patients and the public that in spite of the challenges faced, essential services remain fully open for anyone who needs them, so people should continue to come forward for care.”
