AYRSHIRE'S two main hospitals have both reached full capacity as the crisis facing the NHS in the area grows increasingly severe.

Despite opening all beds across both hospitals where, possible and implementing a “whole system response”, the health board has reported that on January 9 both University Hospital Crosshouse and University Hospital Ayr had reached capacity.

NHS Ayrshire and Arran has blamed the crisis on staff absence, high bed occupancy levels, delayed transfers, and high numbers of frail patients with complex care needs.

The health board also says that due to capacity issues, routine inpatient elective surgeries will be “paused” for the next three weeks as of January 9 – with only urgent, paediatric and day case procedures going ahead.

Joanne Edwards, the health board's director of acute services, said: “Our urgent and unscheduled care services in both University Hospitals Ayr and Crosshouse are under extreme pressure at this time.

“This is due to a combination of staff absence across the whole health and care system, high bed occupancy levels in our acute and community hospitals, some delayed transfers of care and high volumes of frail patients whose recovery includes complex care.

“We have opened all available beds across both our acute hospitals and are at full capacity.

“Within our health and social care partnerships, we have increased the capacity of our community hospitals and have the support of care and residential homes also.

“Our dedicated staff are working tirelessly to try and improve the situation under challenging conditions. We ask for your patience and support in these matters.”

In an attempt to alleviate the demand for hospital beds, families with loved ones in hospital are being asked to decide whether they could temporarily support their relative at home.

Some families are also being asked to consider whether their loved one could receive support temporarily through an “alternative care” method, such as “an interim stay in a care home”, while their needs are assessed.

Care services, however, are also seeing the effects of the crisis with an increased in demand and “workforce challenges” resulting in changes to care packages and delays in processing new requests for care.

Claire Burden, NHS Ayrshire and Arran's chief executive, said: “Services across the whole health and care system remain under extreme pressure.

“To address these issues, we have implemented a whole system response, where we are working with our partners to ease some of those pressures and improve services for people living in Ayrshire and Arran.”

To further try and “decongest the system”, GP surgeries in the area have been asked to only see patients with priority health issues, while patients are being asked to only call for an appointment if their issue is urgent.