The University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust has declared its highest level of operational alert at both the Royal Lancaster Infirmary and Furness General Hospital as of 11 May 2026. This status, known as the highest level of internal escalation, is being used to manage extreme pressure on local medical services.
According to the trust, the decision follows a period of high patient demand and elevated levels of patient illness at both hospital sites. The alert level indicates that the hospitals are currently unable to deliver comprehensive care and that patient safety may be at risk. To address the situation, the trust is cancelling non-essential meetings and redirecting clinical staff to patient-facing roles.
The trust is now working with partners across Lancashire and South Cumbria to ensure patients receive safe and timely care. Residents are being urged to help reduce pressure on hospital staff by only attending emergency departments for serious, life-threatening incidents. For non-urgent medical advice, patients are asked to use the NHS 111 online service.
As one of the region’s largest employers, the trust supports a population of approximately 350,000 people with a workforce of roughly 6,000 staff. The current operational challenges have highlighted the ongoing need for medical and support personnel. The trust is currently advertising over 100 job vacancies across a range of clinical and non-clinical roles, which can be viewed through the trust website.
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