‘Critical incident’ declared as A&E waiting times soar

Patients left for over 9 hours as flu cases mount

- NICK HORNER News Reporter

A CRITICAL incident has been declared at the Trust responsible for three Birmingham hospitals and another in Solihull - leading to huge A&E wait times.

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust said its hospitals were under ‘extreme pressure’ due to demand at its emergency departments, which were ‘overcrowded, and for beds.

It declared the critical incident at 6pm on Monday.

The hospitals affected are the Queen Elizabeth in Edgbaston, Heartlands in Bordesley Green, Good Hope in Sutton Coldfield and Solihull Hospital too.

A&E waiting times were said to be nine hours and 33 minutes at Heartlands, seven hours and 29 minutes at Queen Elizabeth Hospital and five hours and 16 minutes at Good Hope as of 9.55am on Tuesday.

Waiting times were lower at Solihull Hospital’s Urgent Treatment Centre - just 46 minutes.