Due to increased pressures at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary (RLI), we have taken the decision to escalate RLI to OPEL 4 - the highest level of internal escalation. This allows us to be able to take additional steps to maintain safe services for our patients and help us cope with the significant and growing demand we are facing.
Operations Pressure Escalation Levels (OPEL) is a method used by the NHS to measure the stress, demand and pressure a hospital is under, with OPEL 4 representing the high escalation level. OPEL 4 is declared when a hospital is ‘unable to deliver comprehensive care’ and patient safety is at risk.
Whilst Furness General Hospital (FGH) is also operating with some pressures, the decision to declare RLI OPEL 4 has been made due to the high demand we are seeing at RLI. The level of patient acuity is high and we are experiencing a reduced number of discharges and step downs to virtual wards to help with patient flow.
The safety of our patients and colleagues is vital; and the decision to declare OPEL 4 at RLI acknowledges that we were at a point where we cannot continue in the way we are due to the increased risk of harm.
There are some immediate actions being taken by Trust teams and our partners, including:
-
Utilising all alternative options to the Emergency Department, including Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC), Surgical Emergency Ambulatory Care (SEAC), the Gynaecology Assessment Unit (GAU), and the Priority Admission Discharge Unit (PADU)
-
Community colleagues focusing on admission avoidance activities and expediting discharges where possible
-
Acute Medical Unit, frailty and medical colleagues reviewing patients with a discharge ready date to see if these can be safely brought forward
-
Cancellation of non-essential meetings/activities in order to redirect clinician time to patient-facing activities
-
Seeking support from local place-based partners, the Integrated Care Board (ICB) system partners which includes Primary Care, Fylde Coast Medical Services (FCMS), Local Authorities and North West Ambulance Service (NWAS).
Our teams are offering the best possible care to our patients in extremely difficult circumstances and, as always, you have our sincere thanks for going above and beyond. However, you must look after yourselves too: please ensure you are taking breaks where you can and taking care of yourself and each other.
Thank you again for your continued support in these challenging times. This week is going to feel really difficult; and we all need to continue to work together to ensure we can provide safe services for patients and the best possible work environment for colleagues.
If you need further support at any time, please speak to your line manager or Divisional leadership team.
We will continue to keep you updated as we move through this week.
Due to increased pressures at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary (RLI), we have taken the decision to escalate RLI to OPEL 4 - the highest level of internal escalation. This allows us to be able to take additional steps to maintain safe services for our patients and help us cope with the significant and growing demand we are facing.
Operations Pressure Escalation Levels (OPEL) is a method used by the NHS to measure the stress, demand and pressure a hospital is under, with OPEL 4 representing the high escalation level. OPEL 4 is declared when a hospital is ‘unable to deliver comprehensive care’ and patient safety is at risk.
Whilst Furness General Hospital (FGH) is also operating with some pressures, the decision to declare RLI OPEL 4 has been made due to the high demand we are seeing at RLI. The level of patient acuity is high and we are experiencing a reduced number of discharges and step downs to virtual wards to help with patient flow.
The safety of our patients and colleagues is vital; and the decision to declare OPEL 4 at RLI acknowledges that we were at a point where we cannot continue in the way we are due to the increased risk of harm.
There are some immediate actions being taken by Trust teams and our partners, including:
-
Utilising all alternative options to the Emergency Department, including Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC), Surgical Emergency Ambulatory Care (SEAC), the Gynaecology Assessment Unit (GAU), and the Priority Admission Discharge Unit (PADU)
-
Community colleagues focusing on admission avoidance activities and expediting discharges where possible
-
Acute Medical Unit, frailty and medical colleagues reviewing patients with a discharge ready date to see if these can be safely brought forward
-
Cancellation of non-essential meetings/activities in order to redirect clinician time to patient-facing activities
-
Seeking support from local place-based partners, the Integrated Care Board (ICB) system partners which includes Primary Care, Fylde Coast Medical Services (FCMS), Local Authorities and North West Ambulance Service (NWAS).
Our teams are offering the best possible care to our patients in extremely difficult circumstances and, as always, you have our sincere thanks for going above and beyond. However, you must look after yourselves too: please ensure you are taking breaks where you can and taking care of yourself and each other.
Thank you again for your continued support in these challenging times. This week is going to feel really difficult; and we all need to continue to work together to ensure we can provide safe services for patients and the best possible work environment for colleagues.
If you need further support at any time, please speak to your line manager or Divisional leadership team.
We will continue to keep you updated as we move through this week.