Hospitals at highest alert level as demand soars

Hospitals are seeing the highest level of pressure on their services as demand for emergency care across the west soars.

Great Western Hospital in Swindon has been escalated to Level 4 on the system the NHS uses to grade demand, which means patient safety is at risk.

Gloucestershire Royal Hospital is also operating at a critical level, adding it is under "considerable pressure" this week because of flu and norovirus.

It comes as an amber cold weather health alert has been issued for all regions from midday on Thursday to midday on Wednesday 8 January.

"Our teams are working tirelessly to treat patients as quickly as we can and working with social care colleagues to get people home as soon as they are able to so that we can free up more beds," a spokesperson from the Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said.

"With cold weather expected in the forthcoming days, people are urged to take extra care and ensure their home medicine box is appropriately stocked."

In Gloucestershire, emergency departments in Gloucester and Cheltenham are "very busy," with the trust warning "it can take longer for some patients to be seen than we would like".

"The number requiring admission, and occasionally intensive care or respiratory high care, is increasing to levels not seen for some time," the trust said.

"In response we've established cohort bays and wards in line with best practice infection, prevention and control standards."

An expected cold snap is "likely to result in increased use of health care services by vulnerable people," the UK Health Security Agency has warned.

"The forecasted temperatures can have a serious impact on the health of some people, including those aged 65 and over and those with pre-existing health conditions, and it is therefore vital to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable," said Sarah Bird, consultant in health protection at UKHSA South West.

It comes as the Met Office has issued an updated yellow snow and ice warning for several areas across the UK this weekend, including Bristol, Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.

Dr Joe Rowton, an emergency department consultant at Yeovil District Hospital, said: "We've had a lot of flu, which is up 350% from last year, particularly in children between the ages of 5 and 14."

He said that, along with cases of norovirus and the "constant influx of patients", meant they were "very busy".

Bath's Royal United Hospital [RUH] said it was also seeing "high demand for urgent medical care".

A spokesperson said: "Our teams are working tirelessly across the RUH, and with our partner organisations, to ensure all our patients get the care they need in the right place at the right time.

"We are asking people to help us do that by using the right service for your needs, which won't always be at hospital.

"If you need medical help and are not sure what to do, please contact NHS 111 online or on the telephone for advice."

Dr Justin Varney-Bennett, regional director of public health for NHS England South West, urged people to get vaccinated against flu.

"We still haven't seen the peak of flu season," he said. "It's not too late to get the flu vaccination to protect yourself and those you love.

"Stay home if you are sick with plenty of fluid and over-the-counter medicines for aches and pains."

Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.