EMERGENCY patients were faced with a staggering ten-and-a-half hour wait for treatment at Poole Hospital’s A&E unit on Wednesday morning.

Staff sickness and huge demand led to the long delay.

Now the hospital’s medical director has reminded the public that the department is only for “extremely serious injury or illness.”

One patient contacted the Daily Echo after seeing a sign warning that the wait to see a clinician was 10 hours and 31 minutes.

Medical director Matt Thomas said: “In common with many other A&E units across the country, Poole Hospital’s emergency department has been experiencing very significant demand this winter.

“On Wednesday exceptional circumstances due to staff sickness and high demand meant that there were longer waits than we or our patients would have liked - we are very grateful to colleagues within the emergency team, and across the wider organisation, for the extra support that was provided during the day and overnight.

“We always prioritise our most urgent cases so that they receive the safe care and necessary treatment that they need. It should be stressed that all patients were assessed by a nurse within 20 minutes during that period.

“We would like to take this opportunity to remind the public that A&E departments are for extremely serious injury or illness and that alternatives are available, where appropriate.”

The long wait came just a week after patients were diverted away from Poole A&E on New Year’s Eve.

Staff were forced to ask for temporary support from elsewhere with many patients treated at teh Royal Bournemouth Hospital instead.

At the time, Dr Thomas said: “Under established national protocols, A&E units experiencing very significant demand may on occasion request temporary support from nearby emergency departments, supported by the ambulance service.

“In line with this arrangement and in the face of very significant demand, some patients who would ordinarily be seen at Poole Hospital’s A&E department were seen at The Royal Bournemouth Hospital. Both hospitals were extremely busy, but at that particular time, for a brief period, the greatest pressures were deemed to be at Poole.”

He said the ambulance service took patients to the most appropriate facility, depending on their clinical condition.

Winter pressures are taking their toll at many hospitals as conditions such as flu and norovirus increase the number of patients.

During one week in December Poole Hospital was 92 per cent full, much higher than the 85 per cent rate the British Medical Association suggests should not be exceeded to ensure safe patient care.