A critical incident has been declared at University Hospital Coventry amid soaring demand at the emergency department.<\/p>\n
A hospital spokesman said the A&E at the Walsgrave<\/a> hospital is experiencing ‘exceptionally high’ demand and urged people to choose the correct service for their condition.<\/p>\n Live waiting times on the hospital’s website shows the current wait time at the emergency department is more than six hours.<\/p>\n Waiting times at the minor injuries unit, Rugby<\/a> Urgent Treatment Centre (based at the Hospital of St Cross), children’s emergency department and the Coventry<\/a> gynaecology emergency department remains under one hour.<\/p>\n People needing care can also attend the Coventry Urgent Treatment Centre on Stoney Stanton Road which is open daily from 8am to 10pm.<\/p>\n The emergency department is for serious accidents and life-threatening emergencies and the hospital has shared information on alternative places to seek help for more minor conditions.<\/p>\n A spokesman for UHCW said: “We have declared a Critical Incident due to severe and sustained pressure on our services, with our Emergency Department experiencing exceptionally high levels of demand.<\/p>\n “Our teams are working extremely hard to care for patients, but the continued level of demand is resulting in significant delays and waits for some people.<\/p>\n “Declaring a Critical Incident is not a decision we have taken lightly, but it enables us manage the pressure on our services and protect patient safety.<\/p>\n “You can help us by choosing the right service for your care needs. Find out more information about the services available to you here:<\/p>\n