Trust apologises for treating A&E patients in cafe

A Kent NHS trust has apologised after William Harvey Hospital in Ashford used its cafe as a makeshift extension of its emergency department because of significant demand.

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust said the move was due to significant demand, and a small number of patients were looked after in the cafe until emergency patients could be diverted to other hospitals in Kent, the trust said. Trust chief executive Tracey Fletcher said: 'We know this is unacceptable and we are very sorry to patients who have been cared for in this way.'

Labour MP for Ashford Sojan Joseph said it was 'not acceptable' to care for patients in corridors, but staff worked 'incredibly hard' under 'a decade and a half of cuts'. He added that senior management across East Kent Hospitals 'must do more to step up and improve standards across all levels of care'.

Ken Rodgers, chairman of Concern for Health in East Kent, said this type of patient experience will never end unless there is serious investment in east Kent, rather than sticking plaster-type cures. He said he had written to Health Secretary Wes Streeting inviting him to visit the area's hospitals and calling for further investment.

The Department of Health and Social Care has been approached for comment.

Tracey Fletcher said it is sometimes necessary to treat patients in corridors despite staff's efforts, but the cafe arrangement 'will not be allowed to happen again'.

The trust was ranked 101 out of 134 in NHS England's league table published earlier this month.