NHS Devon declares critical incident in response to unexploded bomb in Plymouth
They say it's a "precautionary action"
NHS Devon has declared a critical incident status for health because of an unexploded bomb in Plymouth.
The health service say it's a "precautionary action" so the system can take the "necessary steps" in response to the suspected World War Two device.
There is already a major incident in operation, led by the police, to manage the response to the unexploded bomb discovered in Keyham.
The NHS is aligning its actions and planning with other local agencies as part of the ongoing response.
A spokesperson said: "We are in Critical Incident at University Hospitals Plymouth (UHP) to support the system response to the major incident in the city and to reduce the pressure on our services.
"Declaring an internal critical incident allows us to make decisions behind the scenes to improve patient flow across the hospital. This can include the cancellation and rescheduling of certain planned operations based on clinical need."
"Patient safety remains our main focus"
The advice from NHS Devon is:
- If you have a life-threatening emergency – when someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk – you should still call 999 immediately
- Patients who require urgent treatment, but do not have symptoms of a life-threatening condition, should call 111 or use the 111 service online
- If you attend ED, you will be seen by a clinician but you may be redirected to another service if you do not require urgent care
- If you have a minor illness or minor injury, local GP surgeries and pharmacies are open
- The Urgent Treatment Centre at the Cumberland Centre in Devonport is open every day to treat you if you have an injury which isn’t life-threatening, but requires urgent treatment
- Our Minor Injury Units at Tavistock and South Hams Hospital are also open every day
- First Response is Plymouth’s 24/7 mental health crisis line. Staff are on hand to provide support to you or a loved one in a mental health crisis: 0800 923 9323
- Please pick up your family or loved one from hospital as soon as they are medically fit to be discharged. Helping your loved one to return home will help us care for those people who are acutely unwell. Simple arrangements such as checking in, helping with meals, and supporting with daily tasks mean that people can get home more quickly and will be supported to stay well
Plymouth City Council say declaring critical incident status for the county’s health services can make it easier for local NHS partners to work together to take the necessary steps to manage NHS resources to meet local demands.