Hospital and ambulance bosses said the handover delays were a symptom of wider NHS pressures
Ambulances waiting outside the Queen’s Medical Centre on Tuesday (October 28) evening(Image: Submitted)
Delays in admitting patients to hospital in Nottingham have been described as “unacceptable” by health leaders after 26 ambulances were counted outside an A&E department.
Dozens of East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) vehicles were forced to wait with patients outside the Queen’s Medical Centre on Tuesday (October 28), leaving them unable to respond to calls from out in the community.
Hospital and ambulance bosses said the handover delays were a symptom of wider NHS pressures, while a union has urged them to “get a grip on this now, before the winter crisis pushes staff and patients beyond breaking point”.
The woman who counted the ambulances on Tuesday, at around 5pm, was with her husband who she said had to wait more than 24 hours in a bay until he got a bed on a ward.
A spokesperson for Nottingham University Hospitals, which runs the QMC, denied the 26 figure but said they were unable to provide an alternative number.
The woman who captured at least eight of the ambulances in a video said: “The state of A&E was something else. I don’t blame the staff but I don’t know what’s happened to the NHS.
“It was scary because I thought we were going to be sat there for I don’t know how many hours.”
Thankfully for the 45-year-old Aspley resident, who wished to remain anonymous, her husband was prioritised due to his low oxygen levels.
However he was still forced to wait until 8pm the next day until he got a place on the ward, where he was diagnosed with pneumonia.
“Spending that long in A&E is really sad. People were lying down on the floor because there was nowhere for them to sit.”
Dave Limer, the regional organiser for Unison, which represents thousands of NUH staff, said: “Paramedics and ambulance crews want to be out saving lives, not waiting for hours in hospital car parks.
“This shows the NHS is already in crisis before winter’s even begun, and patients are being let down by a system that’s completely overstretched.
“EMAS and NUH need to get a grip on this now, before the winter crisis pushes staff and patients beyond breaking point.”
Greg Cox, divisional director for Nottinghamshire at EMAS, said: “We continue to face significant pressures on our service, in part due to unacceptable patient handover delays. Handover delays are not an ambulance and hospital only issue – they are a symptom of wider pressures across the NHS and social care systems.
“Our priority is to provide safe, high-quality care for our patients. We’re working closely with system partners to reduce the impact of delays on patients and staff, including implementing the national 45-minute maximum ambulance handover time standard.
“In the midst of these pressures, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to our frontline crews and control room colleagues. They continue to work tirelessly to reach those in urgent need, and their dedication and resilience are deeply appreciated. We remain committed to supporting them in every way we can.
“We ask the public to use NHS services wisely. 999 should be used for life-threatening emergencies. For urgent health needs, use alternative services, including NHS 111, pharmacies, GPs or urgent treatment centres.”
Tasso Gazis, divisional director for medicine at NUH, said: “We have seen an increase in demand across our local health and care system and have a plan in place to mitigate this while maintaining patient safety.
“We want our patients and the public to stay well this winter. If you are eligible, please take up the offer of Covid and flu vaccinations.
“Please attend our Emergency Department in an emergency situation but use alternative services where possible, including 111 online, pharmacies or urgent treatment centres.”