Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) has declared a critical incident amid unprecedented demand on its emergency departments, with record numbers of patients seeking treatment. The trust, which runs Nottingham City Hospital and the Queen’s Medical Centre, said that staff are operating under extreme pressure, resulting in prolonged waits for patients, some of whom are left on hospital corridors for unacceptable lengths of time.

Over the past two weeks, NUH recorded three of the highest emergency attendance figures in its history. In September alone, the number of A&E visits increased by 2,000 compared to the previous year. The critical incident was announced as more than 100 patients waited to be seen in A&E, and over 200 patients who are medically fit for discharge remained in hospital beds—a backlog equivalent to nearly eight wards.

The trust attributed some of the strain to a surge in cardiology cases requiring intensive and extended care, which has necessitated the reallocation of resources across the hospital. Tracy Pilcher, chief nurse at NUH, highlighted the scale of the challenge, stating that pressures are “significant” throughout the hospitals, particularly in emergency services.

This situation reflects broader systemic challenges facing many NHS trusts, as growing patient demand and limited capacity continue to place emergency departments under considerable strain. NUH’s declaration of a critical incident signals the severity of the current crisis and underscores the need for urgent support and effective management to alleviate the pressures on staff and improve patient care.