The Great Western Hospital NHS Trust has declared a critical incident due to the increase in the number of Covid patients being treated at the Swindon hospital.
The number of patients being treated at the hospital has risen 14 in the last 24 hours to 159, with number expected to continue rising in the coming days.
A GWH spokesperson said: “Following increased pressure on Great Western Hospital, the Trust has declared a critical incident today.
“This is due to a large number of patients on site who are receiving care for COVID-19, currently at 159 confirmed and suspected, as well as issues being faced by local ambulance crews waiting a long time to handover patients to our Emergency Department.
“We are working closely with our partners across the region to look at extra staffing capacity to assist with the sheer numbers of patients needing care, as well as how we can speed up discharges for those who are ready to go home. If a loved one needs collecting from the hospital, please do so as quickly as possible.”
To support the hospital during this time, Swindonians are being asked to consider other healthcare options before going to the hospital, one alternative being NHS 111.
Kevin McNamara, Chief Executive of Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This is a really crucial time for our services, and the numbers we are seeing far exceed those which we saw in the first wave. In this past week alone we have seen a 45 per cent increase in the number of patients now in hospital because of coronavirus. This means that the number of beds needed for COVID-19 patients reduces the beds available for other patients, so our resources are really stretched.
“Whilst you might not think you will be affected by COVID-19, it’s also important to remember that the more COVID-19 patients we see, the less capacity we have to treat conditions such as heart attacks and stroke, and emergencies like road traffic accidents.
“With the roll-out of our COVID-19 vaccination programme well underway, there is some hope ahead. The vaccine programme is a marathon, not a sprint, and there is still some way to go, so everyone must continue to follow the rules. The message from our staff is clear – wash your hands, cover your face and make space.”
