FRUSTRATED patients and staff leaving the Royal Bournemouth Hospital were waiting in their cars for up to two hours on the second day of the A338 rebuild.

Those leaving the site experienced heavy delays again as trust bosses admitted “if there is a major incident somewhere it could turn into a very big issue."

Edwin Davies, the trust’s estates director, told the Daily Echo he was aware that on Monday evening some cars were at a standstill for around 30 minutes, with some stuck for up to two hours as they waited for the queues to ease.

He said the delays on Monday were exacerbated by a traffic lights failure in Christchurch.

“This was always our fear,” he said.

“It was not the A338 works per se – it was the impact that that plus another incident would have.

“The road network is so fragile that the slightest incident results in major disruption.”

He said the hospital was doing everything it could to keep traffic moving, including deploying more staff in the car park, and that a further meeting had been scheduled with the fire service, police and nearby businesses for tomorrow.

However, the only route off the site is on Deansleigh Road.

“We still have patients who are post operative being in a car for one-and-a-half hours or two hours - it is wholly inappropriate,” said Mr Davies.

He said the problems are occurring despite the extensive preparation undertaken by the trust, which included introducing flexible working times for staff, incentives to ride bikes, a car sharing scheme and efforts to publicise the forthcoming work in partnership with the council.

He said the hospital is asking for further support from police to keep the junction with Castle Lane East clear, which the trust has no jurisdiction over.

On Tuesday night, Jess Griffiths, 33, a freelance counsellor from Moordown, was visiting the hospital on an emergency call.

She said: “I set off from the car park at 4.30pm and it took me around an hour and 45 minutes to move 30 metres.

“I saw a family in the car behind me get out of their car and walk out as the kids were really hungry and screaming.”

Traffic was heavy heading south along Castle Lane East, with many cars and buses crossing the roundabout at the hospital's entrance in Deansleigh Road and blocking vehicles trying to exit.

One staff member, who had moved her car to a public car park at the Littledown Centre at lunchtime, said she would be seeking a job elsewhere for the duration of the works.

Another, a cardiac ward staff member who wished to remain anonymous, said: "One day of this is alright, but when it is nine months it is a worry.

"I know a lot of people have thought about leaving and getting a job somewhere else while the work is going on.

"My main concern is the ambulances getting in and out. There will be a problem."

Portia Houghi, a speech and language therapist, was caught in the queue at the hospital for around an hour.

"It is quite frustrating," she said.

"I normally pick up my son from the nursery now, it closes in two minutes. Fortunately I don't have to today."

Andy Thomas, visiting the hospital to pick up his father, said: "We were in the front car park so it has not been so bad.

"We have got nine months of this. It makes you wonder how people are going to cope.

"But the work has to be done at some time."