William Harvey Hospital Declares Critical Incident - 04 Feb 2026

William Harvey Hospital in Ashford has declared a critical incident due to exceptional demand on urgent and emergency care services. Beds across the hospital are currently full, emergency department attendances are extremely high, and there are increased numbers of patients with winter illnesses and respiratory viruses.

Declaring a critical incident allows additional support from across the wider health system to help keep patients safe. Staff are working at full stretch, and their dedication during this very challenging period is greatly appreciated.

Residents are urged to consider other health services and only attend the emergency department for life-threatening conditions. Please call NHS 111 for urgent advice. Further updates are available on the hospital’s website.