NHS Grampian recently faced a critical incident due to capacity issues in hospitals. The Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI) and Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin were operating well above their capacity since September. This led to some patients being diverted to other hospitals, prompting the health board to declare a critical incident.
Fortunately, after working tirelessly with partner agencies, the situation has improved slightly. The board was able to stand down the critical incident and stop diverting ambulances away from Grampian. Patients in need of life-saving treatment were still admitted, while those with non life-threatening issues were diverted.
NHS Grampian chief executive, Adam Coldwells, expressed gratitude towards colleagues and partner agencies for their hard work and support during this challenging time. He also apologized to anyone affected by the sudden changes. Despite the resolution of the critical incident, the healthcare system in Grampian remains under significant pressure.
The situation was exacerbated by delayed discharges across the North East, with 199 delayed discharges on Thursday alone. This accounted for 13% of all beds in the region. Mr. Coldwells urged the public to help by ensuring prompt discharge of friends or relatives from hospitals to free up beds for other patients. He also encouraged the use of NHS Inform for self-care guidance and advised reaching out to healthcare providers for further assistance.
As the health board enters a recovery phase, a review will be conducted to address the challenges faced during the critical incident. This review will be presented to the NHS Grampian board in December. Despite the resolved incident, the pressure on healthcare services in Grampian remains high due to various factors, including acutely ill patients, delayed discharges, capacity issues, and staffing pressures.
The collaborative effort of healthcare professionals and partner agencies played a crucial role in managing the critical incident and resolving the capacity issues in hospitals. Moving forward, continued support from the public and effective coordination within the healthcare system will be essential to alleviate the ongoing pressure on services in Grampian.