An NHS trust has announced a critical incident following a situation where 24 ambulances were left waiting outside the A&E department.
Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH), which oversees the Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC) and City Hospital in Nottingham, cited ongoing high demand for services and staffing issues as reasons for significant delays in patient care at the A&E department and other hospital wards.
According to the NHS trust, challenges related to the implementation of a new electronic patient record system introduced over the weekend have compounded the existing pressures.
Particularly affected is the emergency department at Queen’s Medical Centre, where a report from NottinghamshireLive indicates that at 4 pm on Tuesday, 24 ambulances were queued outside and the department was crowded.
NUH has issued a plea to the public and patients to carefully assess the necessity of visiting the A&E department. However, individuals with scheduled appointments are advised to attend unless advised otherwise.
Andrew Hall, the trust’s chief operating officer, acknowledged the strain on staff due to long wait times and overcrowding in the emergency department. He emphasized the diligent efforts of the healthcare workers and urged patience and respect towards them, noting instances of mistreatment.
Patients are encouraged to explore alternative options such as contacting NHS 111, consulting a general practitioner, or visiting a nearby pharmacy to alleviate the strain on emergency services. The public is reassured that emergency services remain operational for critical and life-threatening situations, with a focus on prioritizing patients based on the urgency of their needs.
This development follows a recent incident where 26 ambulances were observed outside the A&E department at QMC over the weekend.
