NHS Grampian faces critical incident amid extreme pressures

Patients redirected as Aberdeen Royal Infirmary struggles with demand

In a recent statement, Health Secretary Neil Gray expressed his apologies to patients affected by the overwhelming pressures at NHS Grampian, which led to the diversion of patients from Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI) to other hospitals. This situation arose due to what officials described as a “critical incident” that occurred last week, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by the healthcare system in the region.

Patients redirected to other facilities

During this critical incident, patients requiring urgent care were redirected to facilities in Dundee and Inverness when clinically appropriate. Despite these measures, ARI continued to treat patients in need of life-saving interventions. The situation has raised alarms among healthcare professionals and political representatives, with warnings that “lives are at risk” as NHS Grampian grapples with unprecedented demand.

Concerns over funding and resources

North East Conservative MSP Tess White criticized the current state of NHS Grampian, pointing out that the health board has the lowest number of hospital beds per capita in Scotland. She emphasized that the ongoing crises have left both patients and staff feeling overwhelmed and frustrated. White questioned the Scottish National Party’s (SNP) commitment to adequately funding NHS Grampian, suggesting that the central belt has historically received more financial support than the North East.

Health Secretary’s response and future plans

In response to the criticisms, Mr. Gray defended the funding allocations, stating that accusations of bias were unfounded. He highlighted his own connections to the Orkney Islands and noted that his health ministers represent constituencies in Highland and Islands. Addressing concerns about the capacity at ARI, he acknowledged that the situation was critical and that corridor care—where patients are treated in hallways due to lack of space—was unacceptable. Gray expressed his regret over the incident and emphasized the need to maximize the use of available beds across NHS Grampian.

As a result of the critical incident, several elective procedures and appointments, excluding cancer treatments and diagnostic tests, have been postponed. Mr. Gray assured the public that he fully expects these appointments to be rescheduled promptly. An NHS Grampian spokesperson confirmed that during the peak of the incident, occupancy levels exceeded the number of funded beds by 105 patients, indicating a severe strain on resources.

The spokesperson further elaborated that ARI has not operated below 100% capacity since early September, attributing the pressures to a combination of factors including an influx of acutely ill patients, delayed discharges, and staffing challenges. The ongoing demand for hospital space and resources remains a pressing issue for NHS Grampian, which continues to face the lowest bed availability per head of population in Scotland.