What does Level 4 alert mean for Lancashire hospitals?

Level 4 alert means the hospitals are unable to deliver comprehensive care due to increasing pressures on services.

What steps are Lancashire hospitals taking during Level 4 alert?

The hospital trust is cancelling non-essential meetings and asking patients to arrange their own transport home.

When should patients go to A&E during a Level 4 alert?

Patients should only attend A&E for serious accidents and emergencies; for minor health issues, they are advised to visit a pharmacist.

Home / Health / Lancashire Hospitals Hit Critical Alert

Lancashire Hospitals Hit Critical Alert

27 Jan

•

Summary

Two Lancashire hospitals reached the highest alert level, Level 4.
This signifies an inability to deliver comprehensive care.
The trust has cancelled non-essential meetings and asked patients to arrange transport.

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has declared its highest alert level, Level 4, at its Royal Preston and Chorley and South Ribble hospitals. This critical escalation signifies that the hospitals are currently unable to deliver comprehensive care, a situation occurring for the second time recently. The trust is taking additional steps to ensure patient safety, including the cancellation of non-essential meetings and requests for patients to arrange their own transport home.

In response to escalating service pressures, the trust urges the public to reserve A&E visits for serious accidents and emergencies. For minor health concerns, visiting a pharmacist is recommended. A trust spokesperson emphasized that patient safety is paramount, and these actions are necessary to prioritize those with the most urgent clinical needs. Essential services remain fully operational, and individuals requiring urgent medical help are still encouraged to come forward.