November 27, 2019 4.05 pm This story is over 52 months old

‘Exceptionally busy’ Lincoln hospital tells patients to avoid A&E

Pharmacies and local GPs are also “very busy”
Lincoln County Hospital. Photo: Connor Creaghan for The Lincolnite

Lincoln County Hospital is “exceptionally busy” and has told patients to avoid the accident and emergency department if they can.

It’s the second time in a month that the hospital has warned about a sudden significant increase in the number of patients attending A&E.

United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust has asked patients to go to their local pharmacy or GP, but admitted that those services were also “very busy.”

Simon Evans, director of operations at Lincoln County Hospital, said: “We are seeing increasing numbers of patients attending our A&Es.

“Many are very poorly and need to be admitted to one of our wards. We are being supported during this exceptionally busy period by our colleagues at LCHS.

“We also ask that patients choose well and use pharmacy and GP services in the community before coming to one of our A&E departments.

“We are aware that our GP colleagues are also busy and are supporting patients by increasing the number of urgent appointments available.

“We would like to thank all of our staff, as well as health and social care partners, who are working together tirelessly to help patients.”

Earlier this month, the former Lincoln MP Karen Lee said the situation at A&E was the “worst my contact has seen” with waiting times up to 20 hours.

Former staff at Lincoln County Hospital previously spoke out about problems of safety and understaffing, which they claim were flagged up but never addressed.

Concerns included staffing levels, as well as newly qualified doctors being left unsupported and overwhelmed by their workload.