This comes after a record month in December, which saw almost 31,000 patients attending the Romford site’s A&E.
The department was originally built to serve 325 patients daily, according to the NHS trust which runs it, but now sees more than double that number with 752 patients visiting on just one day in December.
Around 100 ambulances arrive at the department daily.
Matthew Trainer, Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust (BHRUT) chief executive, said: “This has already been a particularly bad winter, with early January seeing up to 50 patients cared for on our corridors at any one time.
“The physical layout of the Queen’s A&E is inadequate and the additional staff we need to care for patients on beds in corridors costs £100,000 a month.”
The campaign launch has gained the support of local MPs, both from the Conservatives and Labour, who are advocating for the necessary funding to improve the Queen’s Hospital A&E.
Hornchurch and Upminster MP Julia Lopez said: “To get better emergency care for residents, I’ve been pushing ministers to fund the redevelopment of Queen’s A&E.
“The redevelopment has been made possible now that some services have moved from Queen’s Hospital into the brand new £17m St George’s Health and Wellbeing Hub in Hornchurch which we managed to deliver last year.”
Dagenham and Rainham MP Margaret Mullane echoed her sentiments, stating: “There is a desperate need to expand the capacity of the A&E department at Queen’s Hospital.
“The staff are amazing; they go above and beyond to deliver the best care they can, but Queen’s Hospital was only designed with a capacity in A&E for around 300 patients a day, currently the number is often up to 750 with over 100 ambulance arrivals.”
Romford MP Andrew Rosindell also pledged his support for the campaign, acknowledging the relentless efforts of the Queen’s team but highlighting the lack of resources to meet the ever-increasing demand.
He urged residents to join the campaign and show their support.
The hospital is encouraging patients and their relatives to support the campaign by contacting their MPs.
Mr Trainer added: “I’m grateful for the support of our MPs as we campaign to secure the £35m funding needed to improve patient care, provide better working conditions for colleagues and end the indignity of corridor care.”
