Families are being urged to collect relatives from hospital as soon as they’re able to free up beds - and NHS staff are working in care homes to help out – as the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust declares a critical incident.

An internal critical incident is one level up from ‘black alert’ and enables all health and care organisations to work together to solve a situation.

The Trust reported that up to 100 people were waiting to be seen in A+E at one point on Wednesday (capacity is 40) and 25 ambulances were waiting outside.

Meanwhile at Derriford, waiting times of 12 hours were reported to have soared to more than 24 hours at one point earlier this week as more than 300 patients were brought in by ambulance and there were delays in handovers.

RCHT medical director Dr Allister Grant has said that the demand on health and care services in Cornwall is higher now than at any time during the pandemic.

The reasons for the pressures, says the NHS, include the ongoing impact of COVID-19, pressure on staffing, and the needs for social care exceeding the available capacity to provide care for people away from hospital.

Getting patients who are well enough to leave hospital home as soon as possible is one way to alleviate the situation, said Dr Grant.

NHS Kernow has said that there are currently around 280 people in Cornwall in hospital waiting for a care package to be arranged.

Help is available to support people, including a one-off discharge support grant of up to £1, 200 for anyone who is ready to leave hospital but needs a bit of extra care and support to return home. The money can be spent on paying for someone to help with their washing, cleaning, and shopping, or buying equipment to help people retain their independence and avoid being readmitted to hospital.

Dr Allister Grant said: “Please pick up friends or relatives as soon as we ask you to collect them. We know people are busy with work, childcare, or other commitments, and it may not be convenient to collect their loved one from hospital when we call, but the quicker we can get someone home, the quicker we can give the bed to another person who really needs it.

“Please also continue to use the appropriate service, and to only call 999 or visit the emergency department if you have a genuine life-threatening emergency such as a heart attack, suspected stroke, heavy bleeding, are unconscious, or having breathing difficulties.

“Please call your GP if you need urgent health advice, or NHS 111 when the surgery is closed and it cannot wait until it reopens. NHS 111 can also help if you think you need to visit a minor injury unit to treat broken bones, burns and bites. Thank you for helping us to help you.”