Update on emergency department pressures

NHS Grampian has stood down the board-level critical incident enacted in response to extreme pressures impacting emergency departments over the weekend but will retain a hospital-level critical incident for Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin.  

 
While pressures across the health and social care system continue, hospital capacity has improved at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI).   
 
Alex Stephen, who has taken over as NHS Grampian executive director on call today, explained: “We are hugely grateful to colleagues across our local and regional health and social care system for being there to support us during a particularly challenging weekend. The key area of pressure over the weekend came when Dr Gray’s no longer had capacity to safely admit patients, compounded by staffing shortages, ambulance delays, lack of community capacity and increasing pressure at ARI. 
 
“Retaining an incident management team approach for Dr Gray’s will enable us to continue to focus on breaking the cycle of high bed occupancy at the hospital, including case-by-base reviews of all patients who are delayed in hospital and who are awaiting care in the community. We will continue to work shoulder-to-shoulder with multi-agency partners including NHS 24, GMED, MIUs, community hospitals and community care teams to ensure a safe and sustainable environment for both patients and staff. 
 
“We appreciate this situation will be concerning for the local community and I’m keen to underline that we are always preparing for what may be to come as well as the situation presents itself in front of us.  
 
“While teams across our health and social care system are stretched, they are also delivering excellent care day-in-day-out and it’s important we don’t lose sight of that. Thank you to everyone – including staff, partners and volunteers – for all that you have done and continue to do. Thanks too to our patients and families for your patience and understanding.  
 
“Please note, in the interests of clarity and transparency, a very small number of patients were transferred to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness from Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin late on Saturday. Thanks to NHS Highland for supporting this.  
 
“I would also like to reiterate my apologies to anyone whose care has taken longer than we would like this weekend or who had to travel further to access hospital care. As always, our teams are ready and willing to discuss any concerns, and we would be grateful if you can raise these with your care team or with our feedback department.” 
 
Many GPs and pharmacies remain closed for the local public holiday today (28 September). You can find all the details of pharmacies that are open at: www.communitypharmacy.scot.nhs.uk/nhs-grampian/pages/public-holiday-opening-hours/ 
 
As a reminder, if you've tried all self-help options, including the symptom checker on the NHS Inform website, and need support with healthcare issues today or any time outside normal working hours, please remember calling NHS 24 on 111 is the best option. NHS 24 can coordinate care with our Minor Injury Units, GMED, community hospitals and emergency departments and make sure you get to the right place. There may be longer waits than usual today and we thank everyone for their patience. In the event of a life-threatening emergency, please call 999. 
 
To access the symptom checker on the NHS Inform website, visit: www.nhsinform.scot/symptoms-and-self-help

 

For additional guidance visit www.know-who-to-turn-to.com 
 
Friends and family can continue to help us by meeting friends or relatives due for discharge promptly (before 10am if possible) in the coming days so we can prepare the bed for another patient. Thank you for your support.