The CEO of Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust has issued a serious warning that impacts every family in Ilford. The situation is alarming: children facing mental health crises are stuck in the trust's emergency departments for weeks, sometimes even months, because there’s no other part of the health or care system that can take them in.
This is happening at Queen's Hospital in Romford, which directly serves Redbridge and Ilford. The issue is ongoing, and CEO Matthew Trainer is currently reaching out to NHS North East London ICB about it.
This is happening at Queen's Hospital in Romford, which directly serves Redbridge and Ilford. The issue is ongoing, and CEO Matthew Trainer is currently reaching out to NHS North East London ICB about it.
Who’s feeling the effects? All residents who depend on the trust's A&E services, especially families with young people in crisis. For instance, one child in care recently spent an astonishing 77 days in the emergency department. Just two recent cases have cost the trust over £270,000 in staffing and support. There have even been incidents of physical assaults on staff, including one case where a staff member was attacked with a knuckle duster.
A year ago, the trust opened a dedicated safe space room — a private area separate from the main department. Matron Sarah Kelly notes that it has made a significant difference, but it can only accommodate one child at a time, and the demand is increasing.
Matthew Trainer doesn’t mince words: "This is a shameful situation, and it is getting worse every year. These children do not need hospital care. They need a place to live."
What does this mean for you? Your local A&E is under immense pressure. The more long-stay crisis cases the department takes on, the tougher it becomes for everyone else seeking care.