EXCLUSIVE: ‘Corridor Care Is Back’ – Fresh Concerns as Patients Once Again Treated in Queen’s Hospital Corridors
Corridor care has returned to Queen’s Hospital in Romford, with patients once again being treated in beds lining hospital corridors as pressure on the Emergency Department continues to mount.
The Havering Daily has been contacted by distressed relatives who have shared photographs showing rows of patients receiving treatment in hospital corridors, raising fresh concerns over capacity at one of east London’s busiest hospitals.
The images, taken during last week’s hot weather, show patients lying in beds positioned along corridors as staff work to cope with demand.
The exclusive photographs come just four months after local MP Margaret Mullane visited Queen’s Hospital with the Secretary of State for Health.
Speaking to the Havering Daily, the Member of Parliament for Dagenham and Rainham said:
“I visited Queen’s Hospital back in March with the Secretary of State for Health and was assured by the then Chief Executive that corridors were no longer being used as impromptu clinical areas. We are four months on, it is 30 degrees, and my constituents are sending photos of their elderly, vulnerable and sick relatives in corridors due to a lack of capacity.”
Maragret said she understands the immense pressures facing hospital staff but believes urgent action is now required.
“I understand all too well why this is happening. The hospital wasn’t designed to deal with the sheer scale of people presenting at the Emergency Department. They are understaffed and overstretched, but doing the best they can with the resource they have.”
The photographs have renewed calls for the long-awaited expansion of Queen’s Hospital’s Emergency Department.
She continued:
“That is why I have been campaigning hard to secure the £35m Queen’s Hospital needs to expand the Emergency Department and continue to do so, this week with renewed urgency.”
She added that she has already contacted Health Ministers following the latest developments.
“I have contacted Health Ministers and have reached out to the hospital to find out what strategy they have in place to deal with this in the short term, because leaving patients languishing in corridors during a heatwave is not sustainable.”
Responding to the concerns, Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust said pressures on its Emergency Departments remain extremely high but insisted improvements have been made.
Nic Kane, Chief Nurse at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, said:
“Despite rising attendances – May was our busiest month ever with 1,000 patients coming to our hospitals each day for urgent and emergency care – fewer patients are being cared for on our corridors and for significantly less time compared to previous years. This is good for patients and staff.”
The Trust is also urging residents to use alternative NHS services where appropriate.
“We also encourage local people to help our staff care for those in most need by only coming to hospital for urgent and emergency care. Your GP, NHS 111 or pharmacies can help with non-urgent issues.”
The Trust reiterated its own call for investment to improve facilities at Queen’s Hospital.
“And we’re campaigning for the £42m we need to transform our A&E at Queen’s Hospital and help end corridor care.”
The latest imags will undoubtedly reignite debate over the pressures facing Queen’s Hospital, with many local residents hoping that long-term investment can finally bring an end to patients being treated in hospital corridors.
Corridor care at Queen’s hospital in Romford.
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