Noble’s Under Strain

People who require healthcare support across the weekend are being asked to only use the A&E at Noble’s Hospital if they need to, begging the question who goes for a jolly, and instead choose one of the other options available to them across the island.

Noble’s is currently operating at OPEL 4 status, meaning it is operating under extreme pressure.

A clearly defined plan has been activated to manage this and ensure patient safety is maintained at all times. Part of that plan includes asking members of the public to ‘choose well’ when it comes to them seeking heath and care support, and choosing to attend the healthcare setting which is most appropriate for their clinical needs.

Anyone who requires urgent or emergency treatment at the Emergency Department across the weekend will receive this, and should continue to seek treatment there as needed. They will be treated in order of clinical priority.

The Minor Injuries and Illnesses Unit (MIU) at Ramsey Cottage Hospital is able to offer an X-Ray service between 9am and 5pm today and tomorrow and Manx Care say if you need an X-ray, go there.

Alternatively, Manx Care suggest:

• The Manx Emergency Doctor Service (MEDS) – a GP service which operates out of hours when the Island’s GP surgeries are closed (01624 650355) 
• Community Pharmacies, the rota for which can be found here: https://www.gov.im/categories/health-and-wellbeing/pharmacy-services/pharmacy-rota/#accordion
• The Community Dental Service for patients who have a dental emergency but don’t have their own dentist (01624 642785) 
• Self-care (DIY)

Oliver Radford, of Manx Care, said: ‘Noble’s is operating at OPEL 4 status as a result of the number of individuals who attended the Emergency Department overnight who subsequently required admission to hospital for further treatment, however there is very limited capacity within our hospitals to accommodate them. The OPEL framework is used daily across the UK NHS to describe the operating pressures on a hospital, and is a recognised framework for managing patient flow and demand across acute healthcare settings. I hope this will reassure members of the public that this position is being closely managed to ensure patient safety is maintained.

‘If anyone requires urgent and emergency care, they should attend Noble’s Hospital as planned and they will receive treatment – I would like to reassure members of the public of that. However, if you can be seen at another facility, please choose well and attend the facility which is most appropriate for your clinician condition. We are offering an X-Ray service at the MIU in Ramsey this weekend which will hopefully take some of the pressure off the Emergency Department at Noble’s.’