A critical incident has been declared at the trust which runs Gloucestershire’s two main hospitals as it struggles to cope with “higher levels” of demand on its emergency services.

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said despite additional staffing it is taking longer for patients to be seen in Gloucestershire Royal Hospital’s A&E department.

A leaked memo to trust employees by chief operating officer Dr Rachael De Caux said it is recognised “staff are tired” but it would take a “Herculean effort to reset not just us but the entire urgent and emergency care system”.

She also said in the message that demand had been “unprecedented” over the last three days.

The move comes months after the trust temporarily closed its A&E department in Cheltenham General Hospital in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

It said it is “confident” that the temporary change it made is “making our services safer”.

It is not known what the cause of the increased demand is.

Critical incident status allows the organisations’ leaders permission to clear their diaries and work together to try to resolve the situation.

In a statement, Dr Rachael De Caux, said: “Higher levels of demand than we had predicted, combined with new ways of working in response to COVID-19, have put considerable pressure on the urgent and emergency care system in recent days.

“Despite additional staffing, these combined factors mean it is taking longer for individual patients to be seen in our A&E department at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.

“However, we are confident the temporary changes we have made are making services safer.

“Our focus is now on improving waiting times in the department whilst working to reduce demand for hospital care by ensuring patients are seen outside hospital wherever appropriate so only those who need specialist hospital care attend A&E.

“We intend to review the impact and ongoing necessity for the temporary changes at the end of this month, in line with our previous commitments and ahead of the county’s health overview and scrutiny committee meeting in September.

“Our aim remains to ensure that we are prepared for any possible surge in the pandemic and as a result do not have to pause the wide range of non-COVID services as we did during the initial phase.

“Clinicians are reminding members of the public only to attend A&E if your condition is serious or life-threatening.

“For more information and to view the full range of health services available to you please visit asapglos.nhs.uk