Patients at King’s College Hospital Face Four-Day Wait for Beds
King’s College Hospital is overwhelmed, reaching 96.4% bed capacity amid rising winter illnesses
King’s College Hospital, London, NHS, Winter Illnesses, A&E
London: King’s College Hospital is really feeling the pressure right now. They’ve got the second lowest number of available beds in all of London. It’s a tough time for hospitals everywhere, especially with winter illnesses on the rise.
As of January 9th, they were at a staggering 96.4% bed occupancy. That puts them in the bottom 20 hospitals in the country for available beds. It’s a serious situation.
This data is specifically for hospitals with 24-hour emergency critical care, known as type 1 A&E departments. For comparison, Guy’s and St Thomas’ had a much better rate at 88.2% in December.
The King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust acknowledged the high demand for services, saying they’re not alone in this struggle. The Labour government is trying to improve healthcare, but Health Secretary Wes Streeting expressed his shame over patients’ experiences this winter.
One patient shared that he waited nine hours for treatment at A&E. He needed a bed in a mental health unit but was told he’d have to wait four days. “I can’t leave or I’ll lose my spot,” he said, explaining he had been sleeping in a chair in the waiting room.
Another patient, who had a long-term health issue, was visibly upset about his wait time. He had already spent two nights in waiting rooms and faced another two days before getting a bed. “It’s not the NHS I grew up in, but I need the care,” he lamented.
The NHS is grappling with high cases of flu, RSV, norovirus, and even Covid-19. Before this winter surge, only 72% of patients were seen within four hours at A&Es, far below the 95% target.
To help manage the situation, King’s College Hospital is limiting visitors to reduce infection spread and has reintroduced mask-wearing in certain areas. They’re urging people to stay away unless it’s an emergency.
“If you have flu-like symptoms or are experiencing diarrhoea and vomiting, please don’t visit our hospitals. Contact NHS 111 or your local pharmacy instead,” they advised.