Health chiefs say they are overwhelmed with high volumes of ‘frail and ill patients’ after chaos was reported outside Ayr Hospital.
NHS Ayrshire & Arran have vowed to eliminate delays after it was revealed ambulances and other emergency services had to queue for hours for patients to be admitted.
The Daily Record reported that one ambulance crew had an agonising 16 hour wait with a patient outside the hammered hospital.
A police van was also reportedly left grounded for six hours as officers waited with a patient they were sent to pick up due to a lack of ambulances.
Meanwhile, staff in the emergency department scrambled to find space for patients in cupboards and clinic waiting rooms on a desperate night for the hospital last Tuesday.
NHS Ayrshire & Arran has since responded in a statement citing the crippled service is at full capacity.
Medical chiefs listed high occupancy levels, staff absence and delayed transfers of care as other reasons.
Jacqueline Nicol, Acute Site Director says the health board were aware of issues and are trying to find ways to prevent further delays to patient care.
In a statement Ms Nicol said: “Pressure remains high across all our health and care services.
“This is due to staff absence, high occupancy levels in our hospitals, delayed transfers of care and high volumes of frail and ill patients requiring complex care.”
The Daily Record reported that staff at the hospital’s emergency department told how patients were dying due to bed management.
One worker told how cupboard areas were being used with patients being thrown into rooms with no oxygen available.
NHS Ayrshire & Arran say each patient who arrives at emergency departments is triaged on arrival and that clinical teams prioritise cases based on the nature of their medical problem.
Ms Nicol added: “We are aware that unfortunately sometimes patients are waiting longer than we would wish and we are making continuous efforts to find ways to eliminate these delays and to provide care within the waiting times standards.”
Following the release of their statement Ayrshire Live asked NHS Ayrshire & Arran to explain what actions they are taking to prevent further chaotic scenes outside their hospitals.
Joanne Edwards, director of Acute Services said: “Our hospitals are operating at full capacity.
“We are working with our health and social care partners to ensure patients are transferred to the right care setting when their condition allows.”
A spokesperson for the health board said they were unable to comment further.
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