Patients at Derriford Hospital have described scenes of “bedlam” and “scary” conditions following a night of extreme overcrowding at the A&E department. On Monday, September 28, the hospital faced a surge in demand that left patients waiting for over 13 hours to be seen by a doctor.
One witness, who accompanied an immunocompromised friend to the department, reported seeing approximately 250 people crowded into the unit. According to the witness, the scene was chaotic, with patients sitting on the floor, in chairs, and in hospital walkways, some still attached to intravenous drips.
“It was absolutely insane,” the woman told PlymouthLive. “There were people everywhere. It felt dangerous and unsafe. There was no way to get through, and I found myself wondering what would happen if there was a fire—people couldn’t get out.”
The situation escalated throughout the night. The witness noted that upon their arrival at 9:45 pm, the estimated wait time to see a doctor was just under 10 hours. By 1:20 am, that figure had climbed to over 13 hours. Tensions peaked when a senior doctor reportedly addressed the crowded waiting room, demanding silence and informing the public that the unit was severely understaffed. Patients were told that staffing levels would drop to just three doctors after 1:00 am, and many were advised that if they were “well enough to wait,” they should consider leaving and booking an appointment with their GP instead.
Footage from the scene appears to corroborate the reports, showing a packed waiting area and patients struggling to navigate through a congested, high-pressure environment. While the witness emphasized that the nursing staff were “really good” and working to their limits, she described the overall atmosphere as one of extreme frustration and fear.
In an official response, Adel Jones, Chief Operating Officer at University Hospitals Plymouth, acknowledged the “significant pressures” faced by the trust. “Our Emergency Department teams were, at times yesterday evening, caring for a very large volume of patients given the increased attendances,” Jones stated.
The hospital confirmed that teams were tasked with both assessing new arrivals and managing a high number of patients already waiting for a hospital bed. While the trust maintains that the department was in a “much-improved position” by Tuesday morning, the incident has raised fresh concerns regarding the capacity of emergency services.
The hospital has reiterated its plea for the public to use the Emergency Department only for serious or life-threatening conditions. Officials are encouraging residents to utilize NHS 111, pharmacies, or local Urgent Treatment Centres for non-emergency issues to ensure that A&E remains accessible for those in critical need.
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