Chaos at Portsmouth A&E: Patients Left Waiting Hours, Ambulances Queue Outside
Health watchdogs have slammed Queen Alexandra Hospital’s emergency department in Portsmouth as “chaotic” and unsafe. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) found appalling delays with serious patients waiting hours to be seen, while ambulances stacked up outside like a traffic jam.
‘Inadequate’ Rating Hits Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust
The hospital was handed a damning “inadequate” rating for its urgent and emergency services. Interim Chief Executive Tim Powell admitted: “We recognise the picture painted by the CQC in this report and we are very sorry that we have failed to provide to our patients, on a consistent basis, the high standards of care that we expect of ourselves.”
He added: “We apologise for any problems this has caused our health partners, including the local ambulance service. We fully accept the inspector’s findings and are working hard to improve the emergency department.”
Action Plan to Beat A&E Backlog and Boost Safety
- New leadership with Executive Director Dr Rob Haigh overseeing emergency care
- ‘Jumbulance’ ambulance banned from use after safety concerns
- Priority given to speeding up patient tests, referrals, and discharges
- Redirecting patients who don’t need full A&E care to other services
- Closer collaboration with GPs and outpatient services to ease emergency demand
- Daily monitoring reports submitted to CQC to track progress
Powell promises these measures will make a difference before next winter’s peak. “It will take time, but we are determined to ensure by then our emergency services are much improved,” he said.
Trust Vows to Put Patients First
“We are focusing on patient safety above all else, increasing consultant-led care reviews, and tackling delays across hospital and community care pathways,” Powell confirmed. “We’re progressing our Emergency Care Improvement Programme (ECIP) to improve performance and patient outcomes. Our patients should always be at the heart of what we do.”
With the Trust leadership rallying staff and partners, Portsmouth hopes to shake off its rotten A&E reputation and deliver the urgent care the city deserves.
