Doctors call for major incident as hospital 'unsafe'

Senior doctors working at a Glasgow hospital have asked for a 'major incident' to be called this week but had their request declined, BBC Scotland News understands.

Emergency medicine consultants described conditions in the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) as "grossly" unsafe with no room to take in new patients on Monday evening.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said it has a "robust system" in place to deal with additional pressures which were implemented.

Documents seen by BBC Scotland News describe the whole hospital site at the QEUH in Glasgow as being "completely overwhelmed" on Monday evening.

The emergency medicine consultants said a lack of capacity in accident and emergency left one patient waiting almost six hours in the back of an ambulance with a fractured hip.

At the same time five ambulances were on route and a further 19 expected to attend the hospital.

The document states that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde chief executive Jane Grant was involved in discussions about whether a major incident should be called, but it is believed she declined the request.

The health board say the situation was resolved without involving the chief executive.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said all of its services are under "considerable pressure" with the arrival of winter bringing additional challenges.

Read full story

Source: BBC News, 3 December 2024