Medic explains waits as A&Es battle busiest time

BIRMINGHAM’S chief medic has lifted the lid on the “real pressures” facing A&E departments - and the cause of ambulance queues as city hospitals entered their “busiest period”.

- NAOMI DESOUZA News Reporter

Prof Kiran Patel, chief medical officer at University Hospitals Birmingham Trust, told the Post that hospitals were busier than ever, with added pressure over the Easter holidays.

The medic, who is part of a team overseeing daily clinical operations at the biggest hospitals in the West Midlands, also explained the cause of long delays in A&Es and lengthy handovers from ambulances.

Prof Patel, also a consultant cardiologist at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, said: “There's real pressure with ambulances arriving at A&E. This is the busiest time of the year for us”.

Birmingham's A&E departments are based at the Queen Elizabeth, Heartlands Hospital and Good Hope hospitals.

There is also an urgent treatment centre at Solihull Hospital.