Pneumonia patient waits 31 hours on A&E trolley in Bristol

• Jenna Bailey, 39, was admitted to Bristol Royal Infirmary with pneumonia.
• Spent more than 30 hours on a hospital trolley due to a lack of beds.
• NHS experiencing worst A&E wait times on record.

Due to a lack of beds, a woman with pneumonia had to wait more than 30 hours on a hospital trolley at A&E.

On Sunday at 19:30 GMT, Bristol resident Jenna Bailey, 39, went to the Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI) because she was having trouble breathing.

She was given the diagnosis of pneumonia by a consultant, but she was forced to wait on a trolley in the emergency room.

A spokesperson for the hospital apologised for the wait and said patient safety is its “priority”.

“Like many hospitals across the country, we are under sustained pressure in our emergency departments,” a spokesperson from University Hospitals Bristol and Weston (UHBW) NHS Foundation said.

As hospitals struggle to get patients out of wards and into appropriate care facilities in the community, the NHS is experiencing the worst winter for A&E wait times on record.

In order to reduce the need for beds, some hospitals in the west of England are even discharging patients into a hotel.

Despite being seen by a nurse within an hour, Ms. Bailey, who has a long history of heart and pulmonary issues, described the hospital setting as “horrific” for both staff and patients.

“I expected to wait for some time in the emergency department, but the reality was scary,” Ms. Bailey told Media.

“The trolley was so uncomfortable and the constant noise in the A&E department meant I could not sleep,” Ms. Bailey said.

“I do not understand how hospital staff are coping with the demand- something needs to change,” she added.

Ms Bailey has since been moved to a ward with a hospital bed and her condition is steadily improving.

“Things are heading in the right direction, but I still feel very weak and have a long way to go,” she said.

“The doctors and nurses are doing an amazing job in a very difficult situation.

“They are professional to the end but they must be really struggling,” she added.

“We always endeavor to see and treat patients as promptly as possible,” a spokesman for the UHBW NHS Foundation stated. “All patients arriving at our emergency departments are triaged and assessed, with the most clinically urgent being given priority.

“We also face challenges in ensuring the timely discharge of medically fit patients.

“We are working together with local health and care partners to ensure that people who need hospital care can be admitted and then discharged from hospital safely.”

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