The Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s Emergency Department has activated emergency protocols amid an unprecedented patient surge, with daily attendance exceeding 100 cases due to a triple threat of influenza outbreaks, trauma incidents, and chronic disease complications. Hospital executives confirmed the crisis during an emergency briefing Monday, revealing one of the most significant global influenza resurgences since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chief Executive Officer Neil Clark reported an 8.5% annual increase in emergency department visits, translating to approximately 160 additional patients monthly. The situation deteriorated markedly following the holiday period, creating perfect storm conditions where multiple patients require simultaneous urgent care, consequently delaying treatment for less critical cases.
December surveillance data confirmed 42 influenza cases, predominantly Influenza A strain, alongside circulating respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and residual COVID-19 cases. The hospital has implemented comprehensive escalation measures including enhanced staffing rotations, optimized bed management protocols, and strategic discharge planning to address the patient backlog.
Addressing public concerns about patients allegedly sitting on floors, Clark clarified that lowered ambulance trolleys for safety purposes might create visual misconceptions. The hospital expects dedicated A&E trolleys to arrive this week, eliminating the need for repurposed ambulance equipment.
Dr. Anne-Marie Cruickshank, Head of the A&E Department, revealed staggering operational metrics with 40-60 patients consistently waiting for treatment against an ideal benchmark of 15. The department’s crisis response included recalling seven resident physicians during consecutive weekends while augmenting nursing and support staff allocations.
Innovatively, specialist physicians now work embedded within the emergency department rather than providing remote consultations, dramatically accelerating diagnostic decisions and patient processing. The hospital leadership urgently advises the public to reserve emergency services for genuine medical crises including chest pain, respiratory distress, major trauma, stroke symptoms, severe hemorrhage, or sudden collapse, directing non-emergent cases to polyclinics, urgent care facilities, or primary care providers.