East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust has declared a critical incident after an ongoing IT disruption that is affecting services across the trust and prompting warnings of very long waits in some emergency departments.
Who is affected and what to expect
The trust said the problem is impacting clinical systems and patient flow. People presenting to A&E at the William Harvey Hospital, Ashford, and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital (QEQM), Margate, with conditions that are not life‑threatening should expect delays this afternoon (29 July).
"If you need medical assistance, please consider using alternative services such as NHS 111, your GP, local pharmacy, or an urgent treatment centre,"
The trust also asked the public to attend A&E only for life‑threatening illnesses or injuries and to collect patients ready for discharge as soon as they can to help free beds.
Operational response and patient appointments
As part of its incident response, East Kent Hospitals is working with partners across the health and care system, including local GPs and primary care teams. The trust is reviewing scheduled procedures and appointments and has advised patients that, unless contacted directly, they should assume their planned appointment or operation will go ahead.
Chief nursing and midwifery officer Sarah Hayes highlighted the pressure on services and the additional support being drawn in to maintain safety for the most unwell patients.
Practical advice for patients
- Only attend A&E for life‑threatening conditions (for example, severe breathing difficulties, major trauma, suspected stroke or heart attack).
- Use NHS 111 online or by phone for advice and signposting to the right service.
- Contact your GP surgery or an urgent treatment centre for urgent but non‑life‑threatening problems.
- If you can, collect friends or relatives who are ready for discharge to help free capacity.
At a glance
| Trust | Affected sites | Key advice |
|---|---|---|
| East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust | William Harvey Hospital (Ashford); QEQM (Margate) | Use NHS 111/GP/pharmacy; attend A&E only for life‑threatening emergencies |
The trust said its IT teams are working to identify the cause and resolve the issue as soon as possible. Staff remain focussed on providing safe, high‑quality care, but warned that the combination of the technical fault and already high demand is creating exceptionally pressured conditions.
Residents requiring medical help should check NHS111 and local NHS communications for updates before travelling to hospital, and expect extended waits if attending affected emergency departments.
