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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| 'Major incidents' declared at English hospitals | 'Major incidents' declared at English hospitals |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Major incidents have been declared at at least six hospitals in England as medical staff struggle to cope with patient numbers. | |
| United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust is the latest to implement the emergency measure due to high demand. | United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust is the latest to implement the emergency measure due to high demand. |
| Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General hospitals made a similar announcement earlier for the second time in three weeks. | Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General hospitals made a similar announcement earlier for the second time in three weeks. |
| Hospitals in North Yorkshire and Surrey have also declared a major incident. | |
| Patients are being urged to visit their GP or attend a pharmacy, walk-in centre or minor injuries unit, if appropriate. | Patients are being urged to visit their GP or attend a pharmacy, walk-in centre or minor injuries unit, if appropriate. |
| The major incidents will be reviewed regularly and lifted as soon as possible. | The major incidents will be reviewed regularly and lifted as soon as possible. |
| Bed blocking | Bed blocking |
| Mike Proctor, deputy chief executive of York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust which runs Scarborough Hospital, said resources need to be saved for those who need them most. | Mike Proctor, deputy chief executive of York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust which runs Scarborough Hospital, said resources need to be saved for those who need them most. |
| He said: "While the winter months are traditionally a busy time for all hospitals across the country, we have been experiencing an unprecedented surge in demand for our services and we have today reached a point in Scarborough where we have needed to enact our major incident plan. | He said: "While the winter months are traditionally a busy time for all hospitals across the country, we have been experiencing an unprecedented surge in demand for our services and we have today reached a point in Scarborough where we have needed to enact our major incident plan. |
| "Doing this enables us to increase our focus on our most ill patients and step up our management of our resources to ensure that we are seeing, treating and admitting those who most need our care." | "Doing this enables us to increase our focus on our most ill patients and step up our management of our resources to ensure that we are seeing, treating and admitting those who most need our care." |
| Analysis: Nick Triggle, BBC Health Correspondent | Analysis: Nick Triggle, BBC Health Correspondent |
| If a hospital declares a major incident, it is a sign that things have got exceptionally busy and special measures are needed to cope. | If a hospital declares a major incident, it is a sign that things have got exceptionally busy and special measures are needed to cope. |
| This can happen in winter when demands are high, but also at other times, for example if there is a major road accident. The declaration allows hospital bosses to call in extra staff to help them cope. | This can happen in winter when demands are high, but also at other times, for example if there is a major road accident. The declaration allows hospital bosses to call in extra staff to help them cope. |
| But what is also important is what steps they take in terms of restricting the flow of patients into the hospital. One of the first measures is to start postponing routine activity, such as knee and hip operations or outpatient appointments. This is not uncommon. | But what is also important is what steps they take in terms of restricting the flow of patients into the hospital. One of the first measures is to start postponing routine activity, such as knee and hip operations or outpatient appointments. This is not uncommon. |
| More unusual is diverting ambulances so no emergency patients arrive. In effect, that closes the hospital. However, this is only used as a last resort as it increases demands on nearby sites. | More unusual is diverting ambulances so no emergency patients arrive. In effect, that closes the hospital. However, this is only used as a last resort as it increases demands on nearby sites. |
| The majority of outpatient appointments have been cancelled at Ashford Hospital and St Peter's Hospitals in Surrey and non-emergency patients have been told they will face an "extremely long wait". | |
| About 70 patients are "medically fit" to leave hospitals in Lincolnshire but cannot be discharged as they cannot be cared for adequately afterwards, acting chief nurse Pauline Pratt said. | About 70 patients are "medically fit" to leave hospitals in Lincolnshire but cannot be discharged as they cannot be cared for adequately afterwards, acting chief nurse Pauline Pratt said. |
| It comes after staff at the Lincoln County Hospital, Boston's Pilgrim Hospital and the Grantham and District Hospital were asked to cancel leave over Christmas because hospitals were busier than had been anticipated. | It comes after staff at the Lincoln County Hospital, Boston's Pilgrim Hospital and the Grantham and District Hospital were asked to cancel leave over Christmas because hospitals were busier than had been anticipated. |
| An NHS spokesman said 30% of people using Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General's emergency departments had "non-urgent ailments". | An NHS spokesman said 30% of people using Gloucestershire Royal and Cheltenham General's emergency departments had "non-urgent ailments". |
| Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said another factor contributing to the current problem was the high number of "elderly patients being admitted, whose needs are often more complex". | Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said another factor contributing to the current problem was the high number of "elderly patients being admitted, whose needs are often more complex". |
| Did you attend your local A&E department over the Christmas and new year period? What was your experience? You can contact us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. Please leave a telephone number if you are willing to be contacted by a BBC journalist. | |
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