Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) has declared a critical incident due to severe pressures on its emergency services. On Tuesday afternoon, 24 ambulances were left waiting outside the Accident and Emergency (A&E) department at the Queen's Medical Centre (QMC). This situation has arisen amid ongoing high demand for services and staffing challenges.

The trust operates both QMC and City Hospital in Nottingham. It has reported significant delays for patients in A&E and other wards. A new electronic patient record system, introduced over the weekend, has further exacerbated these issues, contributing to the mounting pressures on the emergency department.

At 4pm on Tuesday, the emergency department was particularly overwhelmed, with a large number of patients waiting for treatment. In light of these circumstances, NUH has urged the public to carefully consider whether they need to attend A&E. However, patients with pre-scheduled appointments are advised to keep them unless instructed otherwise.

Andrew Hall, chief operating officer at NUH, stated, "Our staff are working tirelessly to care for patients, but the pressure on our services is causing very long waits and this is causing overcrowding in our ED. We know how frustrating this will be to people waiting in the department. Our staff are working as hard as they possibly can to get to them as soon as possible."

Hall also highlighted that some staff members have faced abuse from frustrated patients. He appealed for kindness and respect towards healthcare workers during this challenging time. He added that patients could help alleviate the pressure by exploring alternative options, such as calling 111, consulting a GP, or visiting a pharmacy.

Despite the challenges, Hall reassured the public that emergency services remain operational. He encouraged individuals to seek help in emergency and life-threatening situations, stating, "Our aim is to prioritise patients with the highest level of need and ensure that we continue to manage emergency care."

This critical incident follows a weekend where 26 ambulances were reported waiting outside QMC's A&E, highlighting the ongoing strain on the NHS in Nottingham.