LEADERS at Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust have declared a "major incident".

The pressure has impacted on Treliske Hospital's Emergency Department and leaders are asking the public to choose alternative services "wherever possible".

The statement said: "Due to extreme pressure on services across Cornwall, leaders of the health and care services have declared a major incident.

"The pressure has impacted on the Royal Cornwall Hospital's Emergency Department and we are asking the public for their help by choosing alternative services wherever possible.

"If you're not sure which service to use call 111 for advice."

Some routine outpatient appointments have been cancelled this afternoon whilst the trust responds to the major incident that has been declared across health and care services in Cornwall.

Another facebook post which was published 15 minutes after the first one added: "Patients are being contacted personally, so there is no need to call the hospital. Urgent cancer clinics and renal dialysis are not affected.

"We do apologise for any inconvenience but hope patients will understand our need to concentrate on caring for the high number of emergency patients needing admission.

Any appointments that are postponed will be rescheduled as soon as possible."

Yesterday the hospital was placed on the highest operation pressure level OPEL 4, previously known as black alert.

 

UPDATE: This evening the trust has issued a further statement saying: "It may be necessary to postpone some further outpatient appointments tomorrow - Wednesday 10 July - whilst we respond to the current pressures on health and care services.

"We will contact patients directly if there needs to be any change to their appointment, so there is no need to call the hospital. If we do not contact you, please come in for your appointment as planned.

"Our apologies for the inconvenience but we hope you will understand the need for us to focus on emergency patients needing admission to hospital."