Hospital bosses said they were 'not out of the woods'
13:24, 15 Jan 2026
A two-day critical incident has been stood down at Nottingham's hospitals but the demand for beds still remains 'extremely high'.
Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH), which runs the Queen's Medical Centre and City Hospital, declared the incident on Tuesday, January 13, stating it was "experiencing pressures like never before".
More than 500 patients were coming through the emergency department every day - despite it being set up to handle 350 patients over a 24-hour period, according to the trust.
On the busiest day of the year so far (Wednesday, January 7), the number of patients coming through A&E rose to 550.
A critical incident is declared when the level of pressure results in a local NHS organisation temporarily or permanently losing its ability to deliver critical services.
Sherwood Forest Hospitals, which runs King's Mill, Newark and Mansfield Community hospitals, declared the same incident on the same day, which is understood to remain in place.
On Thursday, January 15, NUH said it had stood down its critical incident after reducing the number of A&E patients, easing pressure on other wards and improving its staffing position.
However, the trust said it remains at its "highest escalation level short of declaring a critical incident".
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.”