Furness Hospital declares highest alert
This allows it to be able to take additional steps to maintain safe services for patients
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust says due to increased pressures at Furness General Hospital, it's taken the decision to escalate to OPEL 4, the highest level of internal escalation.
This allows it to be able to take additional steps to maintain safe services for patients and help cope with the growing demands.
Declaring OPEL 4 enables the Trust to bring all its partners in Lancashire and South Cumbria together to focus on one thing - the safe and timely care of all of our patients.
As always, patient safety must take priority and it says it needs to take action to make sure that those who are more clinically urgent get the help they need as quickly as possible.
There are some immediate actions being taken by Trust teams and partners, including:
Utilising all alternative options to ED, including Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC), Surgical Emergency Ambulatory Care (SEAC), the Gynaecology Assessment Unit (GAU), and the Priority Admission Discharge Unit (PADU) 
Community colleagues focusing on admission avoidance activities
Cancellation of non-essential meetings/activities in order to redirect clinician time to patient facing activities
Seeking support from local place-based partners and Integrated Care Board (ICB) systems
What can you do to help?
If you are not contacted directly, please continue to turn up for your appointment. Please also contact the number on your appointment letter if you are no longer able to make your appointment, so it can be re-allocated to another patient.
Teams continue to work exceptionally hard; and want to reassure patients and the public that in spite of the challenges faced, essential services remain fully open for anyone who needs them so if you require urgent medical help, please continue to come forward.
The public can help manage these periods of demand by ensuring they are seeking help from the most appropriate health services and only attending A&E for serious accidents and emergencies.
If you are unwell, visit NHS 111 online for 24/7 advice about the most appropriate care for your needs.