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Nottingham Hospitals Declare Critical Incident Amidst Patient Surge
13 Feb
Summary
- Hospitals declared a critical incident due to increased respiratory patients.
- Significant demand led to unacceptable and lengthy waits in corridors.
- Staff asked to work extra shifts and more beds are being created.
Nottingham University Hospitals trust declared a critical incident on February 13, 2026, due to a substantial rise in patients presenting with respiratory illnesses. This led to unprecedented demand on A&E services, causing significant disruptions and lengthy waits for patients. The trust's chief operating officer acknowledged these delays were unacceptable and apologized to affected patients.
This critical incident, the highest alert level in the NHS, was deemed necessary to protect patient safety amidst overwhelming pressures. The situation is exacerbated by patients who are medically fit to go home but remain in hospital, hindering staff's ability to cope with increasing demand.
