Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust has officially declared a critical incident, signalling a state of severe crisis within its services. The move comes as the trust battles overwhelming pressure, joining a growing list of NHS providers pushed to the brink this winter.
Unprecedented Pressure on Services
The trust, which runs Queen's Medical Centre and City Hospital, confirmed the decision was made following "severe and sustained pressure" across its sites. Senior officials pointed to a perfect storm of factors that have crippled normal operations. These include a significant surge in patient demand, a rise in winter-related infections such as flu and COVID-19, and high levels of staff sickness that have persisted since the Christmas period.
This combination has led to what the trust describes as "significant and unacceptable delays" for patients both in the Accident and Emergency departments and in hospital wards. The situation mirrors that of four other NHS trusts in South East England, which also declared critical incidents this week due to a surge in admissions.
Public Urged to Use Services Wisely
In response to the escalating crisis, the trust has issued a direct plea to the local community. Andrew Hall, the Chief Operating Officer at Nottingham University Hospitals, emphasised that people should only attend A&E for genuine, life-threatening emergencies or serious accidents. This is to ensure that the limited available resources are directed towards the most critically ill patients.
"We are experiencing pressures like never before," Hall stated. "Despite our teams working tirelessly, the demand on our hospitals far exceeds our capacity. Declaring a Critical Incident is not a decision we have taken lightly, but it is necessary to protect patient safety."
Apology and Call for Kindness
Hall extended a heartfelt apology to patients and families affected by the extensive delays and the resulting poor experience. He also made a public appeal for understanding and respect towards NHS staff, who are operating under extreme duress. "I am deeply sorry for the poor experience this is causing and ask everyone to treat our staff with kindness as they work through this difficult period to deliver the quality of care that you expect," he said.
The declaration of a critical incident is a formal mechanism that allows the trust to enact emergency measures. These can include:
- Prioritising the discharge of patients who are medically fit to leave.
- Redeploying staff to areas of greatest need.
- Working closely with community and social care partners to free up hospital beds.
- Potentially postponing some non-urgent appointments and procedures.
This breaking development on 13 January 2026 highlights the intense and ongoing strain on the National Health Service during the winter months, with multiple regions now operating under crisis conditions.
