NHS Grampian declares critical incident over 'extreme' A&E pressure

NHS Grampian has declared a critical incident over “extreme pressure” on emergency departments.

The board said the emergency departments at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin were struggling with demand, with wider services stretched and capacity reached ahead of the Monday 28 September bank holiday.

Ambulances were diverted to NHS Tayside and NHS Highland hospitals and patients may face “longer waits”, the board said. Friends and family of departing patients were asked to help “discharge them promptly”, freeing beds.

A critical incident is any localised disruption which results in a board “losing its ability to deliver critical services, or, where patients and staff may be at risk of harm”, the board said, quoting the Scottish government’s definition. The first since December 2024; the last in Scotland was an NHS Highland IT fault in June 2025.

NHS Grampian’s Shantini Paranjothy said: “We are working alongside key partners including the Scottish Ambulance Service, NHS Tayside, and NHS Highland, to take all necessary steps, including diverting ambulances only where absolutely necessary to ensure all patients are safe and well cared for.” She added: “We apologise to anyone impacted by longer waits or by having to travel further to receive necessary care.”

Scottish Conservative North East MSP Liam Kerr called it “deeply concerning”, saying: “Lives are being put at risk, staff are under intolerable strain, and patients are bearing the brunt of the crisis that is continuing to unfold at the health board.” The Scottish government has been contacted for comment.