Covid in Scotland: NHS Lanarkshire warns of hospitals 'under pressure'

NHS Lanarkshire is considering scaling back non-urgent procedures because of "workforce pressures" and rising Covid admissions.

Emergency hospital treatment at the health board should only be sought as a "last resort", an A&E consultant has said.

Dr Calvin Lightbody said "huge numbers" of people were attending A&E with non-critical conditions like insect bites.

Staff shortages are also contributing to NHS pressure across Scotland.

NHS Lanarkshire said it had seen "unprecedented levels" of attendance at emergency departments and urged people to keep them "safe for those who need critical care".

Senior managers are also due to meet later to discuss reducing "elective care" services.

The board's chief executive Heather Knox said: "We have seen an increase in the number of people admitted to hospital with Covid-19 and this is an additional pressure while we are trying to recover services and treat those patients who need our care.

"We also have staffing pressures as we currently have staff who are having to self-isolating due to contacts out of work."

She added: "These combined pressures mean that we have had to take some difficult decisions. Unfortunately, we have had to cancel a number of planned surgeries at University Hospital Wishaw for the rest of this week.

"This is not a decision we take lightly and I would like to apologise for any upset caused."

Nearly 700 people were admitted to accident and emergency across NHS Lanarkshire's three hospitals over the weekend.

Speaking in an NHS Lanarkshire social media video, Dr Calvin Lightbody said the "huge numbers" were as high as they had ever been over the last few years.

The number of patients allowed in waiting rooms has also been cut by more than half because of social distancing measures, the consultant said.

He added: "We're seeing a number of critically ill and seriously ill patients - chest pain, strokes, serious bleeding. That kind of thing.

"But we're also seeing a number of conditions that could be best seen elsewhere, so things like long-standing back pain, sore feet, minor rashes, insect bites. Things that really don't need to be in an accident and emergency department."

The health board is currently treating 45 Covid patients, according to the latest Scottish government figures.

Although the number has been rising recently, it is well below a peak of 367 patients in mid-January this year.

However, NHS staff absences because of Covid-19 across Scotland have also been rising in recent weeks, combining with one of the busiest holiday periods of the year to increase the pressures on the workforce.

Scottish Labour has called on Health Secretary Humza Yousaf to intervene, saying the issues at NHS Lanarkshire were a "direct result" of the Scottish government's failure to control the pandemic.

Scottish Labour health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said: "This is an incredibly worrying situation in Lanarkshire.

"We can now see the direct impact that the SNP's failure to control Covid is having on those in need of care and medical attention. If elective treatment is cancelled then waiting lists will grow ever longer.

"With NHS Lanarkshire at breaking point, Humza Yousaf simply must wake up and take action."

Mr Yousaf said it was "misleading" to suggest the NHS is on the verge of collapse.

He added: "We are in daily contact with boards facing the greatest challenges and are monitoring the situation closely.

"NHS Lanarkshire has provided assurances that those of most clinical urgency, including vital cancer treatment will continue during this challenging period."