YORK Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has declared a major incident at Scarborough Hospital in response to unprecedented demand for its services.

Hospital bosses are implementing a major incident plan, which means the hospital has increased its focus on the most ill patients and is closely managing resources to ensure the hospital is seeing, treating and admitting those who most need care. 

Mike Proctor, Deputy Chief Executive at York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “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. 

“Today in particular we have had people waiting in the emergency department before being admitted to a bed, and we need to make sure that our hospital beds and resources are saved for those who need them most.

“We have also had to postpone some planned surgery and other procedures, and we apologise to those patients affected by this.

“Both York and Scarborough Hospitals will continue to be here to help anyone who needs urgent assessment and care, however the public can really help us by only coming to the emergency departments in an emergency.

“Taking the appropriate action to treat your condition, which might mean contacting your GP or attending a pharmacy, walk-in centre or Minor Injuries Unit, will help to ensure that we are able to treat those patients whose need is greatest."

The major incident status will be reviewed regularly and will be stood down as soon as it is possible to do so. 

Visit www.york.nhs.uk for more information about choosing the appropriate treatment for your condition.