Crisis in Somerset NHS
This week all of Somerset’s hospitals have declared they are at OPEL 4 status.
This includes Musgrove Park, Yeovil, Weston General, RUH Bath and Somerset Partnership NHS Trust.
OPEL 4 status means “The Pressure in the local health and social care system continues to escalate leaving organisations unable to deliver comprehensive care.
There is increased potential for patient care and safety to be compromised.
Decisive action must be taken by the local A&E Delivery Board to recover capacity and ensure patient safety.
All available local escalation actions taken, external extensive support and intervention required.
Where multiple systems in different parts of the country are declaring OPEL Four for sustained periods of time and there is an impact across local and regional boundaries, national action may be considered.”
Please consider if visiting a Somerset hospital A&E department is your only alternative. You can use GP appointments, the 111 phone line or the out of hours service.
Going to hospital should be a last resort and only for the acutely unwell or genuine emergencies.