We’re beyond Code Black..it’s that bad
Warning that NHS is in the midst of ‘historic crisis’
A SCOTS health board has gone “beyond Code Black” to cope with more pressure than at any point in their history.
NHS Lanarkshire has already been forced to call in the Army to help out in its hospitals, where rising Covid infections and staff absences have caused a crisis.
But yesterday the health board instructed its GPs to move to a “managed suspension of services” to focus only on the most urgent care.
Last night Labour’s health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie warned Scotland was in the midst of “historic crisis as NHS Lanarkshire is forced to go beyond Code Black measures to cope with the pressure”. The health board escalated services to risk level black – the highest level – in October 2021 but with the situation deteriorating further they have been forced to brief staff on their “Never Services” protocol. Yesterday the health board confirmed a new set of emergency measures including pausing or reducing all but the essential services to allow for the reallocation of staff and resources.
Baillie said: “It is beyond a shadow of doubt that our NHS is in the midst of a historic crisis. This unprecedented move reveals how dangerous the situation really is. Not long ago escalating to risk level black was almost unheard of but now not even that is enough.”
In a briefing to politicians yesterday, the health board stated: “Health and social care services across Lanarkshire are continuing to experience more pressure than at any other point in their history. Due to this sustained pressure, record Covid-19 numbers and ongoing staff sicka ness absence, NHS Lanarkshire has asked GP practices to prioritise urgent care to help keep our health services safe.
The directive continued that for four weeks all local GP practices have moved to a “managed suspension of services” which means “they will focus on the most urgent and time-critical care”.
The board stated: “People should continue to contact their GP practice for urgent issues, such as if they think they have symptoms of cancer.” Cabinet Secretary for Health Humza Yousaf said: “We understand that NHS Lanarkshire has made the difficult decision to reduce some services to concentrate on care and treatments that cannot be delayed. Services will be resumed as quickly as NHS Lanarkshire is able to do so. “Patients will be able to see a GP when they need to.”