Health System Pressures Ease in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly: What You Need to Know

A system critical incident declared for health and care services across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has officially ended, following an extraordinary effort by healthcare staff and the ongoing cooperation of local residents.

Why Was the Critical Incident Declared?

The system critical incident was triggered on Friday, 3rd January, after local health services faced significant pressure due to a surge in flu cases affecting both patients and healthcare staff. The aim was to stabilise services and manage the increased demand effectively.

Steps Taken to Relieve Pressure

Health and care teams across the region worked collaboratively to prevent hospital admissions and facilitate quicker discharges. This included:

• Utilising personal health budgets
• Expanding the use of virtual wards
• Operating community assessment and treatment units
• Providing same-day emergency care units and X-ray services
• Deploying specialised Right Care and Falls cars

In addition, over 2,000 extra GP appointments were made available at local GP practices and primary care hubs for urgent care needs over a two-week period.

A Message from the NHS

Dr Chris Reid, Chief Medical Officer for NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board, thanked residents for their efforts in reducing emergency department visits by choosing the appropriate care services.

Dr Chris said: “The system critical incident has now been stood down, but health services remain busy, and I would urge people to continue to consider the range of options available to support them if needed. This includes our network of minor injury units, the urgent treatment centre at West Cornwall Hospital, their local pharmacist, GP practices or NHS111 online.”

He also expressed gratitude to patients and their families for their patience during longer wait times, as well as to healthcare staff for their relentless dedication during this challenging period.

“Our health and care staff have continued to work tirelessly throughout the system critical incident. I want to thank them for all they have done over the last few days and throughout the busy winter period,” Dr Chris added.

The Path Ahead

While the system critical incident has been lifted, the NHS is urging residents to remain mindful of the ongoing pressures on healthcare services and to seek advice or treatment through alternative options, where possible.

For those with non-emergency concerns, services such as minor injury units, NHS 111 online, and local pharmacists remain vital resources to ensure emergency departments can prioritise the most urgent cases.

The lifting of the critical incident signals a step in the right direction, but the winter season continues to challenge healthcare services. Local support remains essential as frontline teams continue their dedicated work.