Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals Trust (BHRUT) saw the record number of patients across its emergency departments at Queen’s Hospital in Romford and King George Hospital in Goodmayes last month.
This was the “busiest October ever” for the trust, says BHRUT chief executive Matthew Trainer, and meant that its A&Es treated 50 more people a day than October last year.
Mr Trainer said: “Our hospitals have struggled to cope with the demand.
“I know our patients and staff have had to put up with long waits, crowding and corridor care, and I am sorry about this.”
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In December 2024, BHRUT said it was “particularly challenged” with what was at the time its “busiest month ever” – with almost 31,000 patients attending A&E.
The record numbers come as Age UK warns corridor care is a “crisis in plain sight”, with a recent report highlighting “truly shocking” incidents of elderly people waiting days on end for care across the country.
Caroline Abrahams CBE, Age UK director, said the charity fears the situation will get “even worse” heading into winter.
She said: “No one should have to spend their final days in a hospital corridor where it’s impossible for the staff to provide good, compassionate care, and it’s truly shocking that this is what is happening to some very old people in some hospitals, today and every day.”
