County's hospitals declare 'critical incident'

The NHS in Northamptonshire has declared a critical incident - meaning there is mounting pressure on health services which are at full capacity.

Ongoing demand, particularly at Northampton and Kettering general hospitals have culminated in this escalation.

Earlier this week, the East Midlands Ambulance Service, which covers Northamptonshire, announced its first ever critical incident.

The surge in patient demand has been down to increased hospital visits due to flu, viral infections, and other factors, the NHS said.

Dr Naomi Caldwell, deputy chief medical officer of NHS Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), said: "We have taken this step to ensure we can deliver safe care while we address the challenges."

Declaring a critical incident enables the NHS to prioritise urgent care, minimise disruptions to outpatient appointments and planned operations, and expand capacity where possible.

The NHS aims to open additional beds and collaborate with its partners to maintain essential services.

While GP surgeries remained operational, they were likely to experience significant demand.

Maria Laffan, chief nursing officer at the ICB, added: "If you need urgent health support, please continue to come forward as needed and don't wait if your condition is becoming worse, but please access alternative services where possible.

"We would like to reassure the public that all our emergency services remain open, and we thank them for their co-operation, patience and understanding."

Residents are being urged to consider pharmacies, general practice, or urgent care centres for non-emergency issues.

Patients are also being advised to still attend scheduled appointments unless otherwise contacted.

The critical incident will only be stood down when the NHS is confident it is safe to do so.

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