DORSET County Hospital has declared a 'critical incident' amid rising pressures on its service. 

The hospital said that the numbers of admissions were higher than the number of patients leaving the hospital and staffing issues were among the reasons why the incident was declared. 

A statement from the hospital said: "The number of admissions is exceeding the number of patients being discharged and we are also faced with staffing issues. Declaring a critical incident allows us to take additional steps to maintain safe services for our patients and help us cope with the growing pressures."

"Our focus is making sure our patients are safe and that we keep our critical services running. We are working with our system partners within the NHS and social care to see how they can assist us with patient flow and discharge."

The declaration comes just a day after the hospital urged patients to only visit the premises if necessary 

The hospital confirmed that elective procedures and outpatient appointments are currently still going ahead although they are under constant review. 

Patients who have an appointment should still attend as planned unless the hospital contacts you directly. 

The hospital added: "As always, we remain committed to providing the best possible care for our patients and we thank you for your support and understanding at this challenging time."

Earlier in December hospitals nationwide have seen a rise of 70% in flu cases while cases of Covid-19 in Dorset County Hospital doubled last week.

The public can help to ease the strain on the hospitals by:

  • Only calling 999 in the event of a serious or life-threatening emergency
  • Visit 111.nhs.uk or call 111 if you need urgent medical help and aren’t sure what to do
  • Being ready to collect your family or loved ones from the hospital as soon as they are medically well enough to leave. 
  • Do not visit the emergency department with minor injuries, as you will be signposted elsewhere. Minor Injuries Units are available to help with urgent care needs. 
  • Use the local pharmacy if you can – they can help with a range of minor health issues including colds, skin problems and earaches