A 'critical incident' has been declared today (4 April) by the NHS Trust which runs Stoke-on-Trent's main hospital.

In a statement, UHNM said the critical incident has been declared to allow the Trust and its staff to take additional steps to maintain safe services for its patients and help cope with growing pressures.

Ann-Marie Riley, UHNM Chief Nurse said: "We are currently experiencing extremely high demand for all our services. Both Royal Stoke University Hospital and County Hospital in Stafford have been under extreme pressure since the Easter holiday period.

"We have therefore taken the decision to declare a critical incident. This helps us to take additional measures to maintain safe services for our patients.

Royal Stoke has been under extreme pressure since the Easter holiday period, according to senior staff (SWNS).

"As anticipated, the pressure is greatest in our emergency departments, who are facing on-going challenges as patients are unable to be admitted to beds promptly.

"During this time the emergency departments will continue to see the sickest patients first, which means for some patients there may be much longer delays for their treatment.

"We continue to ask the public to help us by only using A&E in a serious or life threatening emergency and for their help when we're discharging their friends or loved ones to ensure they're picked up from hospital as soon as possible and have everything they need at home."

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READ MORE: Pop-up MMR vaccination clinics to be held in Stoke-on-Trent this month

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