Critical incident stood down at NUH, but pressures remain | Latest news

This morning (15 January 2026), we have stood down the Critical Incident that was declared on Tuesday (13 January 2026) due to the severe and sustained pressure on our hospitals.

We have taken this decision because, since declaring the Critical Incident:

• The number of patients waiting on corridors in the Emergency Department (ED) has reduced thanks to the hard work of our teams.
• Services, such as respiratory, health care of older people, cardiology and acute medicine are now in a better position.
• The demand on our beds has decreased.
• The impact on elective care has been minimised.
• Our staffing position has improved.
   

Although pressures have eased, we remain at our highest escalation level short of declaring a Critical Incident. Our hospitals remain busy.

While numbers are lower, patients are still experiencing long waits in ED, and demand for beds remains extremely high. Many wards continue to care for more patients than usual.

Andrew Hall, Chief Operating Officer, said: “While we are out of the Critical Incident, we are not out of the woods. Our hospitals remain exceptionally busy.

“I am sorry for the impact that this pressure has had, and continues to have, on our patients, and I want to thank our communities for their ongoing support and understanding.

“I am also grateful to our colleagues across the Trust, whose response throughout this Critical Incident has been remarkable. I want to thank them for all they have done.

“From opening additional beds at short notice to coming in on their days off to provide support, our teams have demonstrated determination, professionalism, and a relentless focus on doing what is right for our patients. Please continue to support our teams by treating them with kindness.

“We also continue to ask the public to help us by only using ED for emergencies or serious accidents. For all other health concerns, please call 111 first so you can be directed to the most appropriate service. When patients are ready to be discharged, we ask that friends or loved ones collect them from hospital as soon as possible and ensure that everything they need is ready at home.”

How you can continue to help

• If your relative is due to be discharged from hospital and needs to be collected, please do so as early as possible. This will help our teams and free up a hospital bed for someone waiting to be admitted.
• Only call 999 or attend ED for serious accidents and for life threatening emergencies.
• Where the situation is not life-threatening, alternative support will be available through NHS111 online or by calling 111.
• Urgent Treatment Centres (UTC) treat injuries including sprains, strains, suspected fractures, bites, cuts, scalds and other non-emergency conditions. Waiting times are usually much shorter than ED
• Pharmacies can help with allergies, constipation, headaches and many other ailments, over 200 pharmacies in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire can provide NHS medicines for seven common conditions through the Pharmacy First service. Depending on your age, this includes Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) in women, earache, shingles, sinusitis, impetigo and sore throats. See the website for details.
• Please do not visit your loved ones in hospital if you have any flu or other respiratory illness symptoms - please wait until you are better to visit them.