Patients were warned they faced a wait of more than 20 hours to be seen by accident and emergency (A&E) at a north west London hospital in Boris Johnson’s former constituency.
Hillingdon Hospital in Uxbridge has said its emergency department has been under “significant pressure” this winter with “unprecedented attendances”.
Zoe Grimwood on Twitter shared a picture of the live waiting time screen inside A&E on January 31, which showed that patients faced an expected wait of 20 hours and 39 minutes.
This is my local hospital this morning - 20hr + wait at A&E #HILLINGDON @RisiSunak - trying to save your reputation with going to the pharmacy crap ain’t gonna work pic.twitter.com/7twYSzR7OV
— Zoe Grimwood (@grimwood_zoe) January 31, 2024
She joined prospective Labour parliamentary candidate Danny Beales in calling for deep rooted change.
“This is my local hospital this morning - 20hr + wait at A&E,” Ms Grimwood tweeted, before attacking the health policies of the current government.
Councillor Beales added: “Deeply worrying. Hillingdon Hospital A&E is struggling to cope.
“Doctors and nurses are working tirelessly, but the NHS can’t survive on goodwill alone, it needs a government that backs them.”
Hillingdon Hospital said in a statement on their website: “The Trust is currently facing significant pressure on our services, and unprecedented attendances at our A&E at Hillingdon Hospital leading to extended wait times for patients seeking assessment and treatment.
“The safety of our patients and our staff is always our top priority and we are working through who needs our help as quickly and as safely as we can. We must prioritise treatment for patients with life-threatening conditions and injuries.”
The latest Care Quality Commission into the hospital, in January, called it ‘inadequate’.
Last June, shadow health secretary Wes Streeting called the hospital a “monstrosity” and said it was a “monument” to the current government - with it being in Boris Johnson’s former parliamentary constituency.
“It is the worst hospital I have ever been to,” he told Sky News. “I feel desperately sorry for the staff and even more sorry for the patients.”
The Conservative government has previously pledged to build a new hospital after the next general election.
Last year, Labour failed to defeat the Tories for the Uxbridge and West Ruislip seat that had been occupied by Mr Johnson - with Steve Tuckwell being elected as MP.
Mr Tuckwell has been approached for comment, as has the Department for Health, Hillingdon Hospital and Councillor Beales.
