Health Hospitals lift critical incident status
‘INTERNAL critical incidents’ triggered at Bristol’s hospitals to cope with coronavirus have now been stood down.
North Bristol NHS Trust, which runs Southmead Hospital, and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Bristol Royal Infirmary, both activated critical status at the end of October.
This was effectively a declaration that services were at risk of being overwhelmed, and set in motion a series of unusual steps to protect patients most in need of care.
One month on, the critical incident status has been lifted, but serious pressure remains and the wider healthcare system is now at the highest level of alert.
Healthier Together, a network of health authorities in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG), said health services in the area “entered the highest state of alert” last week, which is known as OPEL 4.
The Post understands that this is an overall alert level for all health providers under the Healthier Together umbrella, including both hospital trusts, Sirona, all three councils, Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust, South Western Ambulance Service, and 111.
OPEL, which stands for operational pressures escalation level, is a system the NHS uses to categorise levels of pressure and activate a response if necessary.
Pressure on the NHS was one of the five key factors that the government considered, before announcing that the BNSSG area would fall under the strictest Tier 3 restrictions later this week.
The second wave has brought a record number of coronavirus patients into both hospitals, with Bristol City Council reporting 247 patients receiving care as of Friday morning.
The city council’s update from Friday added: “Our health system is under considerable pressure.
“We can expect to see this trend in hospitalisations continue for some time after cases decrease, as any intervention will take some weeks to take effect.
“Our local hospitals are seeing an increase in people requiring treatment for Covid-19 symptoms.”
Significant levels of staff sickness have contributed to the strain on
services, as coronavirus demand clashes with the usual winter pressures. Many non-urgent operations and appointments have been cancelled, and a new Home from Hospital service has been launched to support patients at home after dis
charge from hospital.
Jon Hayes, a GP in Hanham and chairman of the BNSSG Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “We know our area has been hit much harder during the second wave of the pandemic than the first, and this is putting our health and care system under considerable strain.
“Our dedicated staff are working together in new ways to keep services up and running, and their contribution continues to be immense. Support from the public is vital too.
“The NHS is very much open, but we need people to use services appropriately.”
Dr Hayes commended the “extraordinary community spirit” in the area and said people should continue to look out for vulnerable relatives and neighbours.
The new Home from Hospital service launched last week and will see volunteers from charities provide non-medical support, for people aged 65 and over who are returning home from an overnight hospital stay.
It is designed for patients who do not already have ongoing support in place from community health or adult social care, who will get a phone call from the British Red Cross within 48 hours of their return, to check on their needs.
A 24/7 phone helpline has also been launched for anyone concerned about their own or someone else’s mental health, which can be accessed by calling 0800 0126 549.