Across the NHS, hospitals are under significant pressure this winter. Demand for urgent and emergency care remains high and flu and other seasonal illnesses are impacting services nationwide.
At Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals, we are feeling this every day. In December alone, more than 6,100 patients came through the doors of our Emergency Departments, giving a sense of the scale of activity our teams are managing.
At particularly busy times, waiting longer than expected can be frustrating, and we understand the concern this can cause, and we want to be open with our communities about these challenges and the action we are taking.
To help manage pressure safely through the winter, we have put additional measures in place across our hospitals, supported by more than £1.3 million of extra investment.
This includes opening additional beds, increasing staffing, and making changes to help patients be assessed, treated and discharged more quickly, with extra support in Emergency Departments, cleaning, diagnostics and patient transport.
We have also completed a full review of our sites to identify any further space that could be safely used for inpatient care if needed.
Our hospitals are a reflection of the communities they serve. They are made up of local people caring for local people – neighbours, friends and family members – doing their very best under sustained pressure. We want to thank our colleagues for their professionalism, compassion and dedication each and every day.
If you need urgent or emergency care, our hospitals remain the right place to come. At busy times, we ask for patience and understanding while teams focus on caring for those who need it most.
Supporting safe care this winter is something we can all play a part in. There are a few simple ways the public can help:
- Use NHS services appropriately – Emergency Departments are for urgent and life-threatening conditions, while NHS 111, GPs, community pharmacies and urgent treatment centres can often provide faster help for other needs.
- Get your flu jab if you are eligible, to protect yourself and others and help reduce pressure on hospitals.
- Keep planned appointments with us whenever you can, or let us know as early as possible if you are unable to attend, so we can make the best use of the capacity we have.
- Plan ahead where possible, including ordering repeat prescriptions in good time.
We also encourage open conversations. If something does not feel right during your care, please tell a member of the team at the time so it can be addressed quickly. If you would prefer to raise concerns afterwards, our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) is available to listen and support you.
Thank you for your continued trust. We remain committed to listening, learning and providing safe, compassionate care for our communities throughout the winter.
