Our Emergency Department is extremely busy

Published: 3 December 2021

Ian Currie, Medical Director, Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Patient safety is always our priority. Like many hospitals across the country, we have been under sustained pressure in our emergency department for several months now.

“Currently extreme pressure is impacting on our ability to admit patients in a timely way which means that ambulances are currently waiting to discharge patients and we are not able to see people as quickly as we would like. We would like to offer our sincere apologies to everyone who is waiting for treatment.

“We always aim to see and treat patients as quickly as possible. All patients arriving at our emergency departments are triaged and assessed with the most clinically urgent being prioritised. This does mean that anyone presenting with less urgent needs is likely to face a very long wait for treatment.

“We are asking everyone to think carefully about which service is right for their needs. Our Urgent Treatment Centre at Newton Abbot is open 8am to 8pm every day and can provide treatment and care for a range of urgent care needs.

“We are working together with local health and care partners to ensure that people who need hospital care can be admitted and then supported to return home safely as soon as they are medically well enough to leave hospital.

“Family and friends of patients can also help by being ready to collect their loved one from hospital when we call, and supporting them when they get home.”