Busy - hospitals across Essex are stretched. Picture: PA A major incident has been declared across Essex as the county s healthcare system struggles to cope with a rising number of patients in need of acute care. There is particular pressure on the Mid and South Essex trust - which runs Southend, Basildon and Broomfield hospitals - with bosses there confirming this morning that there are now more than double the number of Covid patients which were being treated in the first wave of the virus. Staff at that trust have been asked to return from leave to plug gaps in levels.
A MAJOR incident has been declared for the whole of Essex due to the strain coronavirus is putting on the county s health services. On Tuesday the number of patients in Essex receiving treatment for coronavirus exceeded those seen at the peak of the first wave of the virus in the spring. In response to the massive growth in demand on hospitals, particularly in mid and south Essex, the Essex Resilience Forum (ERF) has declared a major incident . This means the county can seek further financial support from the Government in a bid to help ease the pressure on the NHS.
Invalid Date,
ESSEX today called in the Army after declaring a major incident at their crippled hospitals with patients being treated in the back of ambulances.
Sir Bernard Jenkin, MP for Harwich and North Essex, made the plea as it was revealed frontline workers are facing unprecedented pressure.
14
Patients could be treated in triage tents - usually reserved for large-scale disasters, like terror attacksCredit: AFP - Getty
14
14
Ambulance crews are under unprecedented pressure, it was claimedCredit: Twitter/lizbenne
He asked Health Secretary Matt Hancock for military support in building extra hospitals and to help roll out the Covid vaccine.
Sir Bernard told MPs today: I can confirm that Essex has declared a major incident and can I also inform [Hancock] that at this very moment they are submitting a request for military assistance to the civil authority, a MACA request to assist with the construction of community hospitals, additional hospital capacity and supported by
Non-urgent surgery and outpatient appointments are being delayed but serious operations will go ahead.
The major incident was declared in Essex in response to a significant growing demand on hospitals. It will enable local leaders to seek further government support, the Essex Resilience Forum (ERF) said.
Hospital bosses in Southend and Basildon also made a plea for any clinical staff who are on annual leave to return to work immediately to relieve the pressure.
The ERF - which is made up of members of the NHS, emergency services and local authorities - added that the number of patients in Essex receiving treatment for
A MAJOR incident has been declared for the whole of Essex due to the strain coronavirus is putting on the county s health services. On Tuesday the number of patients in Essex receiving treatment for coronavirus exceeded those seen at the peak of the first wave of the virus in the spring. In response to the massive growth in demand on hospitals, particularly in mid and south Essex, the Essex Resilience Forum (ERF) has declared a major incident . This means the county can seek further financial support from the Government in a bid to help ease the pressure on the NHS.