THE hospital has announced it is "under intense pressure" with "many patients" waiting to be discharged.

And a member of staff at Salisbury District Hospital (SDH) has told the Journal the hospital has declared "a critical incident", with pressure "worse than at the height of the pandemic".

At around 1.30pm today, April 27, Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust asked for the public's support while the hospital is at capacity, as it attempts to "alleviate the pressure".

A trust spokesperson said: "The hospital is under intense pressure and is at capacity with many patients waiting to be discharged.

"We ask for your support as we work to alleviate the pressure.

"If you have a loved one who is being discharged please respond quickly to calls about their ongoing care."

Despite this, a hospital employee told the Journal: "SDH has declared a critical incident.

"We’ve been struggling big time - it’s crazy here. It’s far worse than when we were at the height of the pandemic."

An internal critical incident has now been confirmed by the trust - read more here.

The trust says the hospital is open and patients should attend all appointments as normal, unless directly contacted by the hospital.

The trust added if you must attend the A&E department, please be patient as staff will prioritise those with the most urgent and critical needs.

Chief executive Stacey Hunter said: "We would like to ask for the community to support us as we work to alleviate the pressure and improve the flow of patients through the hospital.

"If people have a family member waiting to be discharged please try to respond quickly to calls about their ongoing care at home or in another setting. Please don’t attend the hospital site unless critical, and if attending A&E for emergency care please be patient as staff will prioritise those most in need of urgent or critical care.

"The hospital is open. Please do attend all appointments as normal unless directly contacted by the hospital.”

Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust has been approached for further comment.

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