A major NHS trust in the Midlands has declared a critical incident, citing extreme and unrelenting pressure on its services that is leading to severe delays for patients.
Unprecedented Strain on Nottingham Hospitals
Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust announced the measure on Tuesday, 13 January 2026. The trust, which runs the Queen's Medical Centre and City Hospital, stated that a combination of factors has created a perfect storm. These include soaring demand, a rise in winter infections, and high levels of staff sickness since the Christmas period.
This has resulted in what the trust described as "significant and unacceptable delays" within its emergency department and across its hospital wards. In response, NUH has issued a direct plea to the public, asking them to only attend its A&E departments for genuine emergencies or serious accidents.
National Picture of NHS Winter Pressure
The situation in Nottingham is not isolated. It follows the declaration of critical incidents by four separate hospital trusts in the South East of England just one day earlier, on Monday. Those trusts reported a sudden "surge" in complex A&E admissions.
The incidents in Surrey involve three trusts: Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, and Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust. Furthermore, East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust has also declared a critical incident. This was prompted by "sustained pressures" specifically at the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate.
Leadership Apology and Call for Kindness
Andrew Hall, the Chief Operating Officer at Nottingham University Hospitals, expressed the gravity of the situation. "We are experiencing pressures like never before," he stated. "Despite our teams working tirelessly, the demand on our hospitals far exceeds our capacity."
He emphasised that declaring a Critical Incident was a significant step. "It is not a decision we have taken lightly, but it is necessary to protect patient safety." Mr Hall offered a sincere apology for the impact on patients, saying, "I am deeply sorry for the poor experience this is causing."
He concluded with a request for public support, urging everyone to "treat our staff with kindness as they work through this difficult period to deliver the quality of care that you expect."
