'We’re at full capacity': Patients queuing in corridors at Bristol hospital

  • Professor Steve Hams, who is the Chief Nursing Officer for North Bristol NHS Trust, speaks to ITV News West Country

One of the South West’s biggest hospitals - with beds for up to 900 patients - is operating at “full capacity”.

Some patients have been waiting in corridors at Bristol’s Southmead Hospital as staff struggle to cope with demand.

Admissions for flu, Covid and other seasonal illnesses have spiked in recent weeks, with hospital bosses now asking people to wear face masks on certain wards.

Professor Steve Hams, who is the Chief Nursing Officer for North Bristol NHS Trust, said they are effectively operating a “one patient out, one patient in” policy.

Southmead Hospital is one of the biggest in the South West, with capacity for up to 900 patients. Credit: PA

“We’re at full capacity here at Southmead,” he told ITV News West Country.

“We do our best to ensure we balance that the best we can. Of course we want to ensure all patients that come to us are treated brilliantly and with real care and attention but it's a bit of a challenge.

“We've seen a doubling of the flu cases over the last week or so, and we expect that to probably peak in the next couple of weeks.

“Frequently, we do have more patients than we have beds. We can guarantee that if you are poorly and done well, we will always see you…but sometimes that can take a little bit of extra time and regretfully, we do have some patients that do queue in our corridors.”

Southmead Hospital in Bristol, which is operating at 'full capacity'. Credit: ITV West Country

Health services in the region are struggling to cope with rising demand with Plymouth's Derriford Hospital declaring a "critical incident" on Tuesday 7 January.

Earlier this month, a critical incident was also declared for all services in Cornwall amid growing winter demands.

  • Southmead Hospital's Professor Steve Hams gives advice to people thinking of going to hospital

Prof Hams urged patients to only consider going to hospital in an emergency "if you really need to".

He said: "The best thing to do if you're worried about an urgent care need is to phone or look online for NHS 111. 

“The pharmacies in Bristol and surrounding areas are brilliant and will offer lots and lots of support. 

“But, of course, if you are poorly or you're worried about somebody, we will always be here to look after patients that absolutely need it. 

“The other thing we would say is we've introduced a couple of other control measures to reduce the spread of infections.

“So in our emergency zone, we have introduced mask wearing temporarily so that we can reduce the spread of infection. 

“But we'd also say to families, if you have a loved one in hospital and you are feeling unwell, please - if you can - don't come whilst you've got active flu or cold symptoms or you may have diarrhoea and vomiting because it spreads those infections to very, very vulnerable patients.”