Hospital pleas for help over 'severe overcrowding'

Bosses at a hospital in Nottinghamshire have appealed for the public's help as it deals with "severe overcrowding".

On Thursday evening, the trust that runs King's Mill Hospital in Sutton-in-Ashfield said its emergency department was treating double the amount of patients it was designed to take, with more than 150 people waiting to be seen.

It said the problem had been exacerbated by more than 60 patients who were medically fit to be discharged still awaiting transport home.

With pressures expected to continue into the weekend, patients have been asked to consider whether a pharmacist, GP practice or NHS 111 phone service would be a more appropriate service for their medical issue.

In a Facebook post, Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust said: "Our emergency department at King's Mill Hospital remains extremely busy tonight and it is taking much longer for us to assess and treat our patients.

"We have over 60 patients in our hospitals who are medically fit to be discharged now they have received the vital care they need from us.

"That's around one in seven of our beds that - with your help - could be freed up to help ease pressures in our emergency department.

"If you have a loved one in our hospital who's ready to be discharged, please work with our hardworking teams to help get them home as soon as possible."

On Friday, Phil Bolton, executive chief nurse at the trust, told the BBC: "We're in a slightly improved position today but we're going into another weekend period and in May, we've got two more three-day bank holiday periods.

"So it's going to be a month of pressure if things don't change.

"Please consider really carefully whether you need to attend the hospital and particularly if you need to come to the emergency department."

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