Corridors fenced off to treat patients in QE Woolwich – cold weather arriving will make it worse?

UPDATE: I’ve been told its been there since last year. It appears the hospital is running above capacity and this “quick fix” has been operating now for some time. It’s clearly no permanent solution. Some people behind were in severe pain, lacked dignity and were visible to many people.

ORIGINAL STORY – With cold weather currently rolling into London a recent visit to QE Hospital in Woolwich painted a worrying picture.

Whilst waiting I could see a corridor sealed off (but not particularly well and all the poor people behind were easily seen. And there was a lot of them.

Now bear in mind this was when the temperature was above 10c. Next week freezing conditions will be increasingly apparent and fears for the service are very real.

Nationwide problems

There have been warnings all winter long over pressure on hospitals but we have yet to have any severe cold periods. That now appears to be changing.

Norovirus is also playing a part. Numbers of beds closed increased from 2,397 in the first week of January to 4,318 in the second.

Around £420 million has gone into resilience planning for the NHS this winter but is it enough? QE has seen more beds this year but population rises are high across the borough (and beyond) and closures of NHS walk in centres and long waits for GPs exacerbate issues.

Less people are also taking up free flu jabs this year compared to last.

Despite all these pressures and being worked extremely hard, all staff I saw were an absolute credit to the service and gave wonderful care.

 

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J Smith

I've lived in south east London most of my life growing up in Greenwich borough and working in the area for many years. The site has contributors on occasion and we cover many different topics. Living and working in the area offers an insight into what is happening locally.

2 thoughts on “Corridors fenced off to treat patients in QE Woolwich – cold weather arriving will make it worse?

  • The London Boroughs of Greenwich and Bexley needs another new Hospital with a 24 hour A&E Department to support Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Queen Mary’s Hospital. Opening a new 24 hour A&E department at Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup would take some pressure of the Queen Elizabeth Hospitals A&E department, As would a 24 hour minor injuries unit at Eltham Community Hospital where minor injuries could be treated and patients could see on duty GP’s for minor ailments.

    Reply
  • Q e hosptail have so many empty places just up from the hosptail not sure if it was 4 nurse and doctor rooms y not do something with this building it just sitting there empty comma on nhs and government get it softed out the nurse and doctor r doing there best they need help it getting worse pull your fingers out HELP

    Reply

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