Situation is improving after NHS Grampian declare critical incident due to extreme pressure on services

A healthboard which earlier declared a critical incident due to extreme pressure on emergency services says the situation is improving.

NHS Grampian announced its emergency departments at both Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin and Aberdeen Royal Infirmary were facing “a challenging weekend” because of the local public holiday on Monday.

In an update on Sunday, the healthboard said that no ambulances had needed to be diverted and that Aberdeen Royal and Dr Gray’s were now better placed to support all necessary care.

NHS Grampian executive director on call, Shantini Paranjothy said: “We will stand down from critical incident footing as soon as it is safe and practical to do so.

“Capacity within our hospitals remains challenged and extreme pressures on care within the community continue.

“We are pulling together with partners including NHS 24, the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS), GMED and our health and social care staff across Grampian to make sure every possible resource is maximised and the delivery of care is as smooth as possible.

“If you’ve tried all self-help options, including the symptom checker on the NHS Inform website, and need support with healthcare issues this weekend, please remember calling NHS 24 on 111 is the best option.

“They can coordinate care with our Minor Injury Units, GMED, community hospitals and emergency departments and make sure you get to the right place. In the event of a life-threatening emergency, please call 999.”

It’s the second such critical incident at the healthboard over the past two years.

Earlier Scottish Conservative MSP Liam Kerr said he was deeply concerned.

He said: “Lives are being put at risk, staff are under intolerable strain, and patients are bearing the brunt of the crisis that is continuing to unfold at the health board.

“It’s extremely worrying that ambulances are having to be diverted, in some cases hundreds of miles, to the Highlands and Tayside. This simply should not be happening.”

The health secretary has been speaking with NHS Grampian bosses this afternoon.

Angela Constance said: “The Scottish Government is committed to improving A&E performance and tackling long delays.

“While the challenges facing Scotland are not unique compared to the rest of the UK, I am focused on ensuring people get the care they need as quickly as possible and the status quo cannot continue.

“That is why I have published a new national plan to improve the flow of patients through hospitals and why we have provided £90 million of dedicated funding to support those waiting the longest for treatment.

“It is also why our reforms of the NHS will focus directly on improving services for patients and removing the current bureaucratic barriers in place.

“It is important to acknowledge that pressures on our A&E are impacted by the delayed discharge of patients into social care settings.

“Not all of this is in the gift of the Scottish Government, with local government responsible for the delivery of social care, so it is vital we work closely with Councils and social care providers to reform the system as a whole to meet the needs of people.”