Patients waited more than 60 hours at Addenbrooke’s Hospital’s emergency department, report reveals

Two patients had to wait more than 60 hours in the emergency department at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, writes Hannah Brown, Local Democracy Reporter.

Papers published by Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said capacity in the department was a “significant quality and safety risk”.

The report, prepared by chief executive Roland Sinker, said high numbers of people visiting the emergency department were causing long waits.

A full review is being undertaken to look at the two incidents where patients waited for more than 60 hours.

In September, there were 10,948 attendances to the emergency department, 322 more than in September 2019.

This equated to an average daily rise in attendances from 354 to 365.

The report said that 1,452 patients spent more than 12 hours in the emergency department, compared to 45 patients in September 2019.

Mr Sinker said: “Capacity remains a significant quality and safety risk and the emergency department continues to see high activity resulting in long waits.

“There have been two significant long waits (in excess of 60 hours) and a full review is being undertaken to identify learning.

“In both incidents there was no harm to patients.”

The report, being presented to the board tomorrow (Wednesday, November 9), explained steps had been taken to mitigate the increase in demand.

It said the emergency department now had a dedicated clinician based at the front door and the ambulance bay to identify patients suitable for “streaming” to other places.

The report said that 634 patients were streamed from the emergency department to medical assessment units on other wards. It added that 391 patients were sent to the Surgical Assessment Unit, and that 3,544 patients were streamed to the Urgent Treatment Centre.