Royal Bournemouth Hospital won't rule out critical incident

It comes as the hospital continues to face staff shortages, limited beds and the ongoing effects of Covid. 

Staff say they are doing “every single thing” possible to avoid getting to that stage but must “keep an eye on it being a possibility.”

Sue Whitney, deputy group director of operations, said: “I would like to say we wouldn’t get to that stage, but its only October, and we’re really busy already.

"We’ll do everything we can so that we don’t get there, but I wouldn’t like to promise anything.”

Last week, Royal Bournemouth Hospital declared an internal capacity incident, after recognising they were unable to assist the number of patients they’d like.

Sue said: “An internal capacity incident just gives that increased level of focus and drive and oversight, and with that comes the ability to unblock some areas.”

Sue Whitney, deputy group director of operations. (Image: NQ)

Lucy, one of the clinical site team, added that the hospital had been facing an “uncontrollable volume of patients", and said "we're being overwhelmed".

In the same week, University Hospitals Dorset (UHD) issued a plea for people to only visit the department for serious or life-threatening injuries or illnesses.

Michelle Higgins, the general manager of the emergency department, said: “We’re going into winter and moving into our winter pressures.

"It’s been a difficult couple of weeks for A&E. We’re certainly seeing a lot more ambulances, and a lot more sicker patients.

“Covid definitely feels like its on the increase, certainty with our staff and patients.

"So we’re having to be moving wards around, accommodate our patients and putting our control measures back in.”

Michelle Higgins, general manager of the emergency department. (Image: NQ)

Michelle added that whilst A&E may appear to be the department most overwhelmed, it is simply a “symptom” of the whole system.

She said: “We’re just the bit in the middle, where the pressure builds. People see those pressures, they see ambulances outside and they hear about waiting times, but that’s just indicative of the overall pressure.

"We’re just part of that system, but it’s the most visible part.”

At the hospital's trauma and orthopaedics unit, new ways to respond to the pressures are being explored. 

General manager John West has challenged his department to complete more surgeries in shorter time frames to whittle down the patient waiting lists.

He said: “There are thousands of people on our waiting list, across Dorset and across England, waiting for orthopaedic surgery.

“There’s no denying the lists have gone up, and we can’t change that, but what we can do is use it as an opportunity to do things differently.

“There’s no option to be negative. The only way to improve is to be optimistic about the future, and accept that where we are isn’t good enough, but whatever challenges come in the next months and years, we will face them with a positive outlook and look for ways to improve. “