Hospital trusts at highest state of emergency

Under NHS protocols to measure rising pressures and risks to patients, trusts are tracked on a four-point scale called Operation Pressures Escalation Levels. The highest level, OPEL four, better known as a “black alert”, means safety could be compromised. 24 trusts have instigated black alerts:

♦ Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals

♦ Bedford Hospital

♦ Dartford and Gravesham

♦ Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals

♦ Isle of Wight

♦ Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells

♦ Medway

♦ Northampton General Hospital

♦ North Bristol

♦ North Tees and Hartlepool Hospitals

♦ Nottingham University Hospitals

♦ Oxford University Hospitals

♦ Portsmouth Hospitals

♦ Royal Cornwall Hospitals

♦ Royal United Hospitals Bath

♦ South Warwickshire

♦ Surrey and Sussex Healthcare

♦ Taunton and Somerset

♦ Torbay and South Devon University Hospital

♦ Bristol

♦ University Hospitals Of Leicester

♦ Weston Area Health

♦ Wye Valley

♦ Yeovil District Hospital