Critical incident at four hospitals stood down
Getty ImagesA critical incident declared at four West Midlands hospitals amid high numbers of flu patients has been stood down.
University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust confirmed the critical incidents at Good Hope, Heartlands, Queen Elizabeth and Solihull hospitals ended at 16:00 GMT on Thursday.
It was declared on Monday after health chiefs said emergency departments were overcrowded due to "extreme" pressures caused by the number of flu cases.
On Thursday afternoon, the trust said there were still 241 inpatients with flu, 13 of which were in critical care, and 275 patients in its emergency departments, with 89 waiting for an inpatient bed.
University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, which runs Royal Stoke University Hospital and County Hospital, Stafford, also stood down its critical incident on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, at the Midland Met Hospital in Smethwick, consultant geriatrician Dr Grace Shorthouse said it felt busier than usual for staff .
"It feels like we're working a lot harder, particularly related to flu cases at this time of year," she told BBC Midlands Today.
"But we are coping, we are managing and patients are remaining safe."
Half of the hospital's beds are in private rooms, with the rest in small bays of four. Many patients are also treated at home by hospital staff via so-called virtual wards.
Dr Shorthouse said the impact was "less risk of transmission in the hospital environment" and, "less flu within our hospital walls".
NHS staff in the West Midlands have been running mobile clinics to try to boost flu vaccine uptake.
Elaine Downes, 82, who attended one in Solihull, said: "I had a message from my daughter this morning who's persuaded me to have it done.
"She's getting married and I think she'd rather have me at the wedding with my full health rather than saying I can't come because I've got flu."
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