Nottingham hospitals ask families to swiftly collect discharged patients amid critical incident
Families urged to free up hospital beds to manage high A&E demand
Families are being urged by Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) to collect patients fit for discharge as soon as possible, following the declaration of a critical incident due to overwhelming pressures, especially in the A&E department.
The Trust has reported exceptionally high demand, leading to lengthy waits for patients seeking emergency care.
According to NUH, the number of patients attending A&E has dramatically surged, with September 2026 seeing 2,000 more attendances compared to the same month last year.
Cardiology cases requiring prolonged intensive care have further compounded the situation.
The hospital currently has over 200 patients in A&E, more than 100 of whom are still waiting to be seen.
Delivering care in corridors has become common, leading to increased risk and staff working under extreme pressure.
Chief Nurse Tracy Pilcher highlighted the intensity of the current situation.
She urged families to promptly collect patients who are fit for discharge, emphasising the critical role this plays in managing demand for urgent care and freeing up hospital beds.
Despite staff efforts to manage the pressure and ensure swift patient discharges, NUH remains greatly challenged by the record-breaking attendance at A&E.
NUH is increasing capacity and scheduling additional shifts to support patient flow and discharge initiatives.
System partners are collaborating with the Trust to identify opportunities to improve patient movement through the hospital.
Individuals are advised to call 999 only for life-threatening emergencies and to use NHS111 for non-urgent medical advice.
Urgent Treatment Centres (UTCs) provide care for non-emergency conditions like fractures and sprains.
Additionally, the Pharmacy First service in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire offers NHS medicines for common ailments, aiming to alleviate the burden on emergency services.
Pilcher encourages the public to avoid visiting hospitalised relatives if experiencing flu or respiratory symptoms.