NHS services in Sussex could be busier as a critical incident has been declared at a Surrey hospital.
Patients whose condition isn’t life threatening are being urged to avoid East Surrey Hospital and use alternative services.
Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust asked people to use 111 online, local pharmacies or GPs, as well as nearby treatment centres in Crawley, Caterham Dene, Horsham, and East Grinstead.
The incident was declared to ensure East Surrey can continue to deliver safe care to those who need it most, following high levels of demand and winter viruses.
This comes as the UK is gripped by a cold snap, with the UK Health Security Agency issuing an alert.
The NHS Trust also assured the public that despite the challenges, essential services will remain open and urges anyone who is seriously ill or requires medical attention to still come forward.
Ed Cetti, Chief Medical Officer at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “Due to high levels of demand and a sharp increase in winter viruses which is impacting staffing levels and how we move patients around our site, our services are under significant pressure.
“Our staff are working around the clock to minimise disruption to those already on our wards, treat all patients coming into our Emergency Department, and continue to discharge patients who no longer require acute care to ensure we have available beds for those who need admission, but please only attend East Surrey Hospital in a life-threatening emergency.”
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