"I think the declaration of the major internal incident has been really unhelpful.
A number of other hospitals in England are likely to be facing severe problems of staff shortages and patient-demand of the scale that prompted the declaration of a major incident at Colchester hospital last week, one of the country's most senior doctors has warned.
While there are particular worries about the way Colchester hospital has been managed, Mann said other hospitals are similarly struggling, and the declaration of a major incident is arguably the only way to get these issues addressed.
The government is facing pressure to clarify the rules governing the declaration of "major incidents" at hospitals after an official NHS document called on managers to consider the dangers of creating "reputational damage".
The trust's clinical director, Dr Tom Llewellyn, said the declaration of a major incident meant "stepping up normal management levels" to deal with "an unprecedented demand".
Paterson visited Somerset following pressure in the House of Commons from local Tory and Liberal Democrat MPs last week and the eye-catching declaration of a "major incident" by one of the local authorities, Sedgemoor.
Burnham also highlighted a section of the recent West Midlands document which showed that NHS England is centrally involved in the declaration of any major incident.
While declaration of a major incident at Colchester was related mainly to pressures on services and staff shortages, the Guardian understands concerns were also raised with the CQC about safeguarding issues relating to inappropriate restraint, resuscitation and sedation of elderly people, some with dementia.
