3 January 2024

Today (Wednesday 3 January) Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust (PHU) have declared a critical incident to protect patient safety as the hospital and Emergency Department is full. This is due to the combination of delays across our system and an increase in demand for services causing intolerable delays for our patients, increasing the risk for patients requiring an emergency response in the community.

Our hospital has been under pressure for a while and we are already experiencing a difficult week, following the Bank Holiday weekends, and as we cope with increasing winter pressures and low staffing numbers, particularly in our Emergency Department (ED). We need help from our community to make sure that our hospital can continue to care for those who need our services. 

Please only attend the Emergency Department if it is vital, this means a life-threatening illness or injury that cannot be treated elsewhere. People attending the ED who do not need to be there, will be directed to another more appropriate setting to allow us to treat those who need us. We ask you to use NHS 111 Online or call 111 for support on how best to seek medical advice. There are also other options available for care by visiting your local pharmacy, Urgent Treatment Centres or GP practice. 

  • Our emergency services will remain open for those who need urgent care during this period. 
  • If you have an appointment but haven’t otherwise heard from us, please continue to attend as planned. If we need to reschedule appointments, we will have contacted you. 

Our key focus is on providing safe care for patients who need urgent and emergency services, and those receiving inpatient care in our hospitals. For more information on knowing where to go for medical care, head to our website: https://www.porthosp.nhs.uk/knowwheretogo  

Our staff are doing everything in their power to care for patients in a safe and timely way, but the high number of people needing care mean there are very long waits in our ED and for admission to our wards. This is not acceptable, and we apologise to our patients and community. 

The Portsmouth community and partners can help us by doing everything they can to decompress our hospital:

  • Support patients who are ready for discharge to get home as quickly as possible.
  • Do not come to the Emergency Department unless it’s vital. 

Alternative support and care is available through Urgent Treatment Centres (UTCs), Pharmacies and primary care. You can also contact NHS 111 online or by calling 111 for advise on where to access help if you are unsure. 

We are working closely with our partners across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight who are also taking actions to provide capacity and support in their services.

Thank you for all your support during this difficult and busy time.

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