Nottingham NHS trust critical incident declared amid ‘extreme pressure’

It said it had more than 200 patients in its hospitals who were safe to leave, and urged family members to collect any relatives ready to leave.

Pilcher added: “We recognise that significant waits to be seen and corridor care is not the way our staff want to work or our patients want to be seen, and for that we are very sorry.

“Please be reassured that we are doing all we can and hope that the actions we are taking will improve the situation as soon as possible.

“Getting patients out of the hospital when they are ready is vital to improving our position.”

Critical incidents are declared as an attempt to get patients to think carefully about what part of the NHS they seek treatment from.

The trust advised people to only call 999 or attend emergency departments for serious accidents and for life-threatening emergencies.

It said urgent treatment centres could treat injuries including sprains, strains, suspected fractures, bites, cuts, scalds and other non-emergency conditions.

NUH added where the situation was not life-threatening, alternative support would be available through NHS 111 online or by calling 111.