Shocking video shows A&E patients left on trolleys in hospital corridors for EIGHT hours

July 28, 2016

Matthew Walker, 32, took his mother to Royal Stoke University Hospital
Arrived at AE at 9pm but wasn’t seen until 4.45am – 8 hours later
Filmed dozens of patients lying on trolleys in corridors waiting to be seen
Hospital said it is ‘no secret’ the AE department is exceptionally busy

Madlen Davies for MailOnline

Published:
10:52 EST, 28 July 2016

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Updated:
11:51 EST, 28 July 2016

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This shocking video shows patients being left on trolleys in corridors at Royal Stoke University Hospital’s swamped AE department

This shocking video shows frail and elderly patients being left in corridors for hours as they wait for treatment.

Footage shows dozens of patients lying on trolleys while they wait to see a doctor.

The clip was filmed in the early hours of Tuesday morning at Royal Stoke University Hospital AE – a traditionally quiet time for the department.

Matthew Walker, from Glossall, uploaded the footage to Facebook as he was disgusted at how long vulnerable patients are left waiting.

The 32-year-old took his mother-in-law, who has MS, to the hospital at 9pm, but she was soon put on a trolley and parked in a corridor.

It was not until 4.45am, eight hours later, that she was finally seen by a doctor and discharged.

While there, he made the video showing scores of patients waiting in beds along a corridor.

Writing on Facebook, Mr Walker said: ‘I do not know where to start really.

‘We arrived maybe just after 9pm to the AE in a car after my mother-in-law had been taken up by ambulance.

‘There was roughly 200 people there, with some sitting on the floor as there was not enough chairs.

‘Luckily as the ambulance service brought her in she went straight through to a corridor where she was transferred to a bed.

‘The corridor contained 20 plus people who were already on beds waiting to be seen.

He continued: ‘Within five minutes she was observed and then every hour until 4.40am when she was seen by the doctor.

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‘Every time someone was seen by a doctor she was moved forward, one along with everybody else.

‘We were not happy but the doctors and nurses did the best they could as they were 100 per cent overworked.

‘Obviously there could have been more serious injuries to people coming in. Some were waiting longer but the majority were there or thereabouts waiting as long as us.

‘People were tired as they couldn’t rest as they were either having observations or being wheeled to a space forward in the corridor.’

The long queues have been blamed on the downgrading of the AE department at the nearby Stafford Hospital.

That AE is now closed between 10pm and 8am, meaning hundreds more patients now arrive at the Royal Stoke University Hospital.

Dr Julie Norton, clinical lead and emergency medicine consultant at the hospital, said it was no secret the AE department is busy.

The night Mr Walker filmed the department, 410 people attended over a 24-hour period, which was ‘expected’, she said.

She said: ‘It is no secret that our AE is exceptionally busy and over the last two months we have been asking our local community for their help in ensuring they use NHS services appropriately.

Dr Julie Norton, clinical lead and emergency medicine consultant at the hospital, said it was no secret the AE department is busy

Mr Walker took his mother to AE at 9pm on a Tuesay evening. She wasn’t seen by a doctor until 4:45am. The hospital said 410 people attended AE in a 24 period that day and it was ‘no secret’ the department was busy

‘We would like to thank everyone for their support as we acknowledge this is a very busy time.’

She urged the public to use health services appropriately – only attending AE in an emergency.

She said: ‘Only 35 per cent of our patients require admission, and many would be treated more quickly and efficiently by visiting their GP, walk-in centres and pharmacies.

‘The ageing population continues to drive an increase in AE attendances and we are seeing many more patients over 85-years-old and increased numbers of ambulance referrals.

‘There are pressures in social and community care, which makes discharging patients home difficult, and we have asked for support from relatives in helping us to get their loved ones home.

‘Our Emergency Centre staff are here to treat accidents and emergencies so my team are asking everyone to please use services wisely and allow us to focus on the people that really do need our care.’