New Operational Pressure reporting levels

There is a new national system for escalating operational pressures which means that all parts of the NHS are using the same terminology and standards.

The new standards are called OPELS - Operational Pressures Escalation Levels.

There are four OPELS:

OPEL 1 – is normal working arrangements

OPEL 2 – the local system is starting to show signs of pressure and may need some additional actions in place

OPEL 3 – Major pressures with deterioration in performance against the A&E target; community places full; social care unable to fulfil packages of care and out of hours GP services under significant pressure

OPEL 4 – No capacity across the Trust; severe ambulance handover delays; no capacity in community; social care unable to fulfil packages of care; and the Trust unable to take GP referrals.

We are currently at OPEL 3. Patients are experiencing longer waiting times in in A&E and we are having difficulty in discharging patients.

We are working with our partners across health and social care to find ways of safely discharging patients.

Don’t delay – tell us today

If you think you have a patient who is fit for discharge but there is something preventing it – then tell your matron. There may be something that could be done to help. No matter how big or small, unless we know about it we can’t find a solution.