A&E at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire is extremely busy
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Waiting times at A&E in Coventry exceeded 16 hours yesterday as the service comes under increasing pressures.
A spokesman for UHCW said staff are working ‘exceptionally hard’ and urged people to choose the service most appropriate for their condition.
One CoventryLive reader sent photos showing the maximum wait time hitting more than 16 hours yesterday - although the average waiting time was much lower at under three hours.
The reader said medics and patients were under increasing stress, adding: “Arriving at 11pm, a patient was triaged and with three sets of obs but not seen by a doctor by 10.32am. Another patient explained that some others had just gone home.
“Patients were provided with hot drinks and snacks and masks.”
Face masks were recently reintroduced at parts of the hospital amid increasing winter pressures, including a surge in flu cases.
Some neighbouring hospitals including University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, have declared a ‘critical incident’ as A&E departments face huge demand.
A spokesman for UHCW said: “Our Emergency Department is extremely busy. An experienced clinician assesses the severity of symptoms of every person who attends to ensure we see the sickest patients first.
"There are currently long waiting times within emergency departments regionally and nationally. We know waiting is frustrating, but our staff work exceptionally hard to treat every patient as quickly and efficiently as they can.
“Members of the public can help us by choosing the most appropriate NHS service for their condition. For example, people can call NHS 111, visit our urgent treatment centre, their GP or pharmacist for many minor illnesses or injuries.”
https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/coventry-hospital-ae-warning-maximum-33039368
Same old, same old!
