Critical incident declared over A&E pressures

A critical incident has been declared by an NHS trust amid growing pressure on its emergency department.

South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust said the level of attendances at Warwick Hospital's A&E was among the highest it had ever seen.

Teams were trying to see people as quickly as possible, the trust added, but the increased demand meant they were unable to maintain the waiting times it "strives for".

It said those seeking care would be waiting for a "significant length of time" and asked anyone attending the hospital to minimise the number of people with them.

It urged people only to visit A&E for life-threatening emergencies and seek help via 111, pharmacies, GPs or the minor injuries unit at Stratford Hospital for any other health issues.

University Hospitals of North Midlands (UHNM) also declared a critical incident on Wednesday due to "extremely high demand" for its services, including for the emergency department at Royal Stoke University Hospital.

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