UPDATE: A shocking 26 ambulances were left idle outside the Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC) in Nottingham on October 28, 2023, as health leaders condemned the delays in admitting patients as “unacceptable.” This alarming situation unfolded around 5 PM, with multiple East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) vehicles unable to respond to urgent calls due to overwhelming pressures on the NHS.
The distressing scene highlights a broader crisis within the healthcare system, as patients, including a woman’s husband who waited more than 24 hours in a bay before being admitted, face dire consequences. “Spending that long in A&E is really sad,” she described, noting that “people were lying down on the floor because there was nowhere for them to sit.”
Officials at Nottingham University Hospitals, which operates QMC, acknowledged the issue but disputed the count of 26 ambulances, providing no alternative figures. This incident raises significant concerns about patient care quality and the mounting strain on the NHS as winter approaches.
Dave Limer, regional organiser for Unison, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “Paramedics and ambulance crews want to be out saving lives, not waiting for hours in hospital car parks.” He called for immediate action, warning that the NHS is “already in crisis before winter’s even begun.”
In response, EMAS Divisional Director Greg Cox confirmed that “unacceptable patient handover delays” are symptomatic of wider pressures across the NHS and social care systems. “Our priority is to provide safe, high-quality care for our patients,” he stated, while urging the public to utilize NHS services wisely, reserving 999 for life-threatening emergencies.
Adding to the urgency, Tasso Gazis, Divisional Director for Medicine at NUH, acknowledged a surge in demand across the local health and care system. “We have a plan in place to mitigate this while maintaining patient safety,” he assured, urging eligible individuals to get vaccinated against Covid-19 and flu.
This crisis not only highlights the immediate need for action within the NHS but also the human impact of these systemic issues. As winter looms, health leaders are pressing for solutions before the situation escalates further.
The community’s response is critical—citizens are encouraged to seek alternative health services, including NHS 111, pharmacies, and urgent treatment centers, to alleviate pressure on emergency departments.
Stay tuned for developing updates as health officials work to address this critical situation in Nottingham’s healthcare system. The urgency of reform has never been more apparent, as patients and healthcare workers alike face the strain of an overstretched and overwhelmed system.
