CRITCON level four is the highest possible alert level and means the trust’s resources are “overwhelmed”
UPDATED: Trust later claims it was an administration mistake
A hospital in the South East today declared a level of critical care alert meaning that it may be forced into ‘refusal or withdrawal of critical care due to resource limitation’ because it has been ‘overwhelmed’ but later claimed it was an ”administrative error”.
Data from an internal NHS dashboard for critical care, seen by
HSJ, showed today Darent Valley Hospital, near Dartford in Kent, declared it was at “CRITCON level four”.
CRITCON level four declarations are extremely rare. In guidance they are known as “Triage - emergency” and defined as: “Resources overwhelmed. Possibility of triage by resource (non-clinical refusal or withdrawal of critical care due to resource limitation).”
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Britain could vaccinate 24million people against coronavirus by Easter after the game-changing Oxford University/ AstraZeneca jab was approved this morning and its makers promised to deliver 2million doses a week.
In a massive boost to ending the pandemic within months, the UK medical regulator green-lit the vaccine, which is cheap, easy to transport to care homes and protects 70 per cent of people after just 21 days. Regulators are now recommending the jab is given in two doses three months apart, rather than over a four-week period, allowing millions more to be immunised over a shorter time period.
Britain has already ordered 100million doses and injections are due to start on Monday, but ministers now face the mammoth challenge of trying to vaccinate 2million people a week to curb the spread of a highly-infectious mutant strain racing across the country.
Boris Johnson voiced bitter regret at brutal new coronavirus restrictions at Downing Street press conference
Matt Hancock has unveiled review of Tiers with three quarters of England due in top curbs by the New Year
The Midlands, North East, parts of the North West and parts of the South West going to Tier 4 from midnight
Everyone else apart from 2,000 people on Isles of Scilly, which is remaining in Tier 1, will be under Tier 3 curbs
Mr Hancock tried to soften the blow by saying AstraZeneca vaccine approval will end the crisis by the Spring
UK has ordered 100 million doses - enough to vaccinate 50million people - with first jabs starting on Monday