THE major incident declared at Colchester General Hospital has been called off - but it remains on “red alert”.

Health bosses took the unusual step following a snap Care Quality Commission inspection of the hospital’s A&E and emergency assessment units two weeks ago.

It meant non-emergency procedures were cancelled and explicit guidance was issued to the public not to go to A&E unless patients were suffering from serious or life-threatening illnesses.

During the visit, inspectors raised concerns over the abrupt manner of some staff and not all patients were being treated with dignity and respect.

They also recorded insufficient use of curtains and covers for patients and said nursing and medical staff were seriously over-stretched.

But this morning, the hospital announced “normal working” would re-start immediately.

Dr Lucy Moore, chief executive of the Turner Road hospital, said: “It was clear at the time of the CQC visit that our staff – particularly in the Emergency Department and the Emergency Assessment Unit – were under serious pressure.

“Pressure in the hospital has now been reduced, not least because people are considering carefully whether they really need to come to the Emergency Department.

“In addition, with the support of our health partners - including North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group, GPs and community services - we are confident we will be able to discharge more patients from the hospital in the coming days.”

She added: “This will enable our staff to concentrate their efforts on the patients who really need acute care.

“When acute hospitals like Colchester General are under severe pressure, they can resolve the pressures only with the support of health partners who are willing to play their part in ensuring patients are cared for in the most appropriate settings.”

Hospital chiefs have also taken advice from troubleshooters NHS Emergency Care Intensive Support Team on how best to deal with emergency assessment as demand increases.

On advice from the support team, the trust has capped the number of beds in the emergency assessment unit at 45, to “substantially ease pressure on staff” working in the unit.

When CQC inspectors visited, 62 beds were in use.

The hospital remains on “red alert” because its contingency ward is still in use.

Colchester MP Sir Bob Russell said he was “delighted” at health chiefs’ decision.

He added: “This has clearly been a very worrying time for all associated with the hospital – staff and patients – as well as residents throughout our part of Essex.

“I am delighted that the prompt action taken has led to this outcome, although I recognise this has been at the expense in particular of cancelled operations which I hope can be speedily reinstated.

“We are, of course, still left with the fact that the hospital remains in ‘special measures’ but I am reassured that positive steps to work towards overcoming deep-rooted management structure issues will result in this aspect being resolved – although when is uncertain.”