Devon: NHS hospitals to ‘turn people away’ due to strikes | UK News
NHS hospitals are on the ‘highest level of escalation’ in Devon because of the pressures caused by strike action.
This could mean patients are sent away from A&E departments to seek care elsewhere if they are not critically ill.
It could also mean ambulances who attend call-outs across Devon and parts of Cornwall may need to take people to an emergency department away from their local hospital.
NHS bosses said they have taken the extra measures to keep patients safe.
The NHS in Devon has now entered OPEL 4 – the highest level of escalation – in light of the continued pressures.
In a statement, NHS Devon said: ‘A walk-out by junior doctors from 7am on Wednesday September 20 until 7am on Saturday September 23 has left many hospitals facing difficulties in filling rotas, especially over the next two evenings (Thursday and Friday).
‘Although consultants ended their separate 48-hour strike on Thursday morning, there remain far fewer clinical staff in hospital emergency departments than usual and the NHS in Devon has now entered OPEL 4 – the highest level of escalation – in light of the continued pressures.’
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