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A&E closed for the night after 'extremely busy weekend' (From Watford Observer)
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Watford General Hospital's A&E department closed for night after 'extremely busy weekend'
9:15am Tuesday 19th March 2013 in News
By Adam Binnie, Senior Reporter
A&E closed for the night after 'extremely busy weekend'
The accident and emergency department at Watford General Hospital was closed to patients arriving in ambulances on Sunday evening, after an "extremely busy weekend".
Although patients arriving on foot were able to be treated at the hospital, ambulances were diverted to other hospitals run by East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, and Luton and Dunstable NHS Foundation Trust.
One patient, who suffers with cancer and asked to not be named, had to be taken to hospital in Barnet, an extra 30 minutes away when the department was closed on Sunday night.
Natalie Forrest, acting chief operating officer, said: "We apologise to any patients who experienced delays in the emergency service. The A and E department at Watford was extremely busy over the past weekend.
"Due to the hard work and commitment of our incredible workforce the A&E department remained open to all walk-in patients.
"This was supported by the ambulance services who diverted ambulances to nearby hospitals for a short period of time. We are very grateful to our colleagues for their assistance.
"The trust is working closely with our partners throughout the health service to ensure a full and safe emergency service continues to be available."
Were you affected by the delays? Contact the news desk on 01923 216296 or email abinnie@london.newsquest.co.uk.
Comments(18)
garston tony
says...
10:58am Tue 19 Mar 13
OAC Bailiff wrote:I agree, however if you normally get x amount of 'business' at a certain time and therefore arrange rota's etc to cover that amount then it is going to be hard to handle much more on top. And before anyone says it if you have too much staff on then there would be complaints about that too I'm sure.
disgraceful
I'd like to know how much of this extra workload they had was due to drunks and druggies suffering the effects of a night out and over indulging? I really would love to see a policy where those two groups especially have to pay a fine or fee if they need to be dealt with by the police or have to attend A&E. The full cost of their treatment preferably
G_Whiz
says...
11:51am Tue 19 Mar 13
Whether it's hospitals, schools, roads, crime. the news is Always negative.
Just where are all the good news stories the Left used to lecture us about?
Come on Observer - print some!
MrBlackCab
says...
11:54am Tue 19 Mar 13
Home Truths
says...
12:27pm Tue 19 Mar 13
garston tony
says...
12:46pm Tue 19 Mar 13
MrBlackCab wrote:Oh yes, because things where so perfect under Labour.
This is disgusting, I never ever thought il ever say this but bring back Tony Blair.
And yes, I am being sarcastic
sallywatford
says...
2:35pm Tue 19 Mar 13
MarsLander
says...
5:24pm Tue 19 Mar 13
MrBlackCab wrote:How will illegally invading a foreign country help? He was and is the pits!
This is disgusting, I never ever thought il ever say this but bring back Tony Blair.
LSC
says...
5:48pm Tue 19 Mar 13
MarsLander wrote:While I agree he is the pits, could you please name one single invasion of a foreign country by another that was 'legal'?
MrBlackCab wrote:How will illegally invading a foreign country help? He was and is the pits!
This is disgusting, I never ever thought il ever say this but bring back Tony Blair.
D-Day wasn't legal. The Vichy France government legally in power were against it. Mussolini was elected in Italy when we invaded. Most of North Africa didn't have much say where our tanks went.
Germany itself wasn't keen in 1944 when it's borders were crossed.
I HATE the fashion for calling a war 'illegal'. ALL war is illegal, by definition. It has to be. War usually involves taking other people's land and killing many of the inhabitants.
When was that ever 'legal'?
HornetJJ
says...
6:29pm Tue 19 Mar 13
HornetJJ
says...
6:29pm Tue 19 Mar 13
graham1304
says...
6:31pm Tue 19 Mar 13
The ambulance staff have been queuing for hours on end in the corridors as they wait to be seen with their patients, how on end do the ambulance service cope is beyond me, if they are not waiting in corridors they are going to other hospitals miles out of the way, the poor doctors and nurses are struggling with the amount of patients coming in.
The government really need to sort this out as a matter of urgency, it's ok building new homes in abbots Langley and west Watford but how on earth are the hospitals going to cope!
God forbid anything happens in Watford which requires the use of our A and E only to find they have had to close for the night as they are to busy!
crazyfrog
says...
7:10pm Tue 19 Mar 13
Mohandas
says...
7:14pm Tue 19 Mar 13
graham1304 wrote:Thanks for your insight and it just shows how our services are being stretched. Joined up thinking is sadly missing.
I have spent the last 6 weeks at WGH and must say I feel for the staff there.
The ambulance staff have been queuing for hours on end in the corridors as they wait to be seen with their patients, how on end do the ambulance service cope is beyond me, if they are not waiting in corridors they are going to other hospitals miles out of the way, the poor doctors and nurses are struggling with the amount of patients coming in.
The government really need to sort this out as a matter of urgency, it's ok building new homes in abbots Langley and west Watford but how on earth are the hospitals going to cope!
God forbid anything happens in Watford which requires the use of our A and E only to find they have had to close for the night as they are to busy!
MarsLander
says...
7:54am Wed 20 Mar 13
LSC wrote:I quite agree with you LSC.
MarsLander wrote:While I agree he is the pits, could you please name one single invasion of a foreign country by another that was 'legal'?
MrBlackCab wrote:How will illegally invading a foreign country help? He was and is the pits!
This is disgusting, I never ever thought il ever say this but bring back Tony Blair.
D-Day wasn't legal. The Vichy France government legally in power were against it. Mussolini was elected in Italy when we invaded. Most of North Africa didn't have much say where our tanks went.
Germany itself wasn't keen in 1944 when it's borders were crossed.
I HATE the fashion for calling a war 'illegal'. ALL war is illegal, by definition. It has to be. War usually involves taking other people's land and killing many of the inhabitants.
When was that ever 'legal'?
We have a ministry of Defence that invades foreign lands.
What next, a Ministry of Truth or a Ministry of Justice?
MarsLander
says...
7:56am Wed 20 Mar 13
crazyfrog wrote:Where is Harrington? He needs to reply.
This warrants an immeadiate responce from Watford's MP Richard Harrington, the additional distance to a fully operational A+E could mean life or death to some unfortunate soul, This is a sign that as been mentioned before Watford General is at breaking point !
garston tony
says...
11:35am Wed 20 Mar 13
Secondly there is such a thing as personal responsibility too. I understand that pubs and clubs are not supposed to serve people if over intoxicated however I can appreciate that that is sometimes hard to implement. For instance if a friend who is more sober is buying the drinks.
If the individual however can not regulate themselves to the point that they need medical attention then actually why shouldn’t they pay for the costs of it? I'd extend that to many other self inflicted illnessess and injuries. People that do extreme sports should have medical insurance for instance.
garston tony
says...
11:36am Wed 20 Mar 13
OAC Bailiff says...
9:31am Tue 19 Mar 13