Derriford Hospital is currently facing significant pressure amid dangerous icy conditions across the South West.
Yesterday, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust had its busiest day ever, with a ‘record number’ of patients turning up across its sites, Plymouth Plus can reveal.
This includes the Emergency Department, Urgent Treatment Centres and Minor Injury Units.
Yesterday alone, 718 people turned up, which is the largest combined total number of attendances the hospital has on record.
The figure is up 30% from 550, which is the normal number of average attendances across their sites for this time of year.
Icy conditions across the South West have led to a huge surge in patients with ice related injuries.
The Met Office has now issued a yellow weather warning, highlighting a risk of icy patches overnight into Wednesday morning that could lead to even more slips, falls and some travel disruption.
These challenging circumstances mean many ambulances are being held outside of the hospital, taking South Western Ambulance Service crews off the road and delaying their response times.
It is very important that you only attend the Emergency Department for life or limb threatening conditions.
If you need urgent treatment but it is not life threatening, please use the Urgent Treatment Centres, available across the region.
You can use NHS 111 online to get the right help for your symptoms and find the best help nearest to you.
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