The terrifying reality of the country's NHS crisis has been laid bare as 14 ambulances queued outside of Whiston Hospital.
A man who attended the hospital's Accident and Emergency Department with his mum, 82, after she was transported there by ambulance on Tuesday, March 7, described the scenes outside as "chaos". The man, who has asked not to be named, contacted The ECHO after seeing multiple ambulances queued up outside the A&E department.
Whiston Hospital confirmed they had experienced "unprecedented demand" at A&E. St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has now declared the highest level of escalation possible with its hospitals operating at full capacity.
READ MORE: Thomas Cashman trial updates as jury told of moment mum realised Olivia Pratt-Korbel had been shot
The man said: "They are keeping all ambulance admitted patients in the ambulances themselves as there are no spaces available in A&E. My mum was crying in pain.
"My mum is 82 and this has made her very agitated and upset." He also claimed ambulance staff told him they are being kept here for "almost their entire shift" in some instances.
Whiston is not the only hospital struggling, with hospitals across the region, North West and the country are facing significant pressures due to NHS cuts. Earlier this year The ECHO reported on the grim accounts of doctors working in Aintree Hospital's A&E department, with one doctor stating: "This isn't healthcare, it is now a lottery whether you will survive."
Several doctors spoke of their dismay at the fact busy corridors are now routinely used to house patients who are waiting for huge lengths of time for bed spaces on wards. One doctor said: "We now have call bells in the corridor, this has normalised corridors being used for patients."
This normalisation of corridor wards is evident by the recent installation of power sockets on those corridors. One image from Aintree shared with The ECHO shows power sockets and a sign which reads "AED Corridor, Bed Space 20".
Just two weeks ago Aberdeen Royal Infirmary declared a major incident as 13 ambulances were queued outside.
A St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust spokesperson said: “As with all other hospitals across the country, we have experienced unprecedented demand for our emergency care services over a sustained period of time. This week, due to high numbers of patients requiring acute care and a significant number of medically fit patients unable to be discharged due to delays in the community, the Trust has declared the highest level of escalation possible with its hospitals operating at full capacity.
"This inevitably causes delays for those attending or requiring admission through the Emergency Department, with some patients with non-life threatening conditions unfortunately being cared for on ambulances outside the department. Our staff are responding to this increased pressure with exceptional professionalism and are working incredibly hard throughout the hospitals to manage demand.
"We appreciate how difficult the current situation is and would like to thank the public for their continued support and kindness.”
READ NEXT
Schoolchildren arrested after horrific cat attack video emerges
Woman 'gave Thomas Cashman new clothes' after Olivia Pratt-Korbel was shot
Eurovision Song Contest tickets being resold for £11,000
When and where snow will fall as Met Office issues four day weather warning
