Patients sleep in corridors at east London hospital trust despite best A&E performance since 2020

Around three quarters of patients are now treated within four hours at the trust despite overcrowding
Ambulances outside Queen's Hospital in Romford
PA
Jacob Phillips21 March 2024

The A&E departments of an east London hospital trust have recorded their best performance since 2020, but some patients are having to sleep on beds in corridors due to overcrowding.

NHS England figures show Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospital Trust (BHRUT) has greatly improved the number of patients being treated within four hours.

Around 75 per cent of patients, around 21,000 visitors, are now discharged in the time frame, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Some 12,499 patients were admitted to hospital in need of serious help while over 6,500 patients were sent to “type-one” departments, which care for people most in need of urgent help.

Matthew Trainer, chief executive of the trust, said: “Almost 7,000 more patients were seen and treated within four hours this February compared to around 15,000 last year.

“This is great to see and is a testament to our clinical and operational teams.”

The improvements come despite 600 more ambulances bringing patients to Queen’s Hospital in Romford in February last year.

But, the hospital is still working far beyond its capacity.

Mr Trainer added: "Every day, more than 600 people go through a department designed for 300.

"This means too many older people are spending the night on beds in corridors, and we have lots more to do to reduce waits for everyone.”

Queen’s Hospital declared an internal critical incident on March 12 due to  “bed pressures across the site”. 

Staff were told to follow OPEL-4 (operational pressures escalation levels) procedures, which means the institute is “unable to deliver comprehensive care,” and non-essential meetings were stepped down. 

It was in place until 15th March 15. 

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