A Scottish health board has declared a critical incident over "extreme pressure" on its A&E services. NHS Grampian stated that emergency departments at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and Dr Gray's Hospital in Elgin are struggling to cope with demand.
Shantini Paranjothy from NHS Grampian said care services were also stretched and patient capacity had been reached ahead of a local bank holiday on Monday. She added that some ambulances would be diverted to other regions, including NHS Tayside and NHS Highland, and patients may experience "longer waits" for care.
Ms Paranjothy asked for friends and family of patients leaving hospitals to help "discharge them promptly" to free up beds. This marks the first such incident declared by the board since December 2024.
The Scottish government defines a critical incident as any localised disruption where a board loses its ability to deliver critical services, or where patients and staff may be at risk of harm.