EMERGENCY patients were diverted away from Poole Hospital A&E on New Year’s Eve due to huge demand.

Under-pressure staff asked for temporary support with many patients treated instead at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

Dr Matt Thomas, Poole Hospital medical director, told the Daily Echo: “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.

“On New Year’s Eve, 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.

Poole Hospital continued to accept patients within designated specialties – that is, those for which it has the lead/specialist role.

Dr Thomas added: “Staff at Poole were very grateful to their colleagues within The Royal Bournemouth Hospital and the wider Dorset system for the extra support that was provided during that shift.

“We would also like to take this opportunity to remind the public that A&E departments are for extremely serious injury or illness and that other services are available for less serious conditions.”

Winter pressures are taking their toll at Poole Hospital with figures revealing 66 beds were closed between December 9 and 15 due to norovirus.

During the same period 45 people who arrived at the hospital by ambulance waited at least twice as long as the target 15 minutes to be transferred to the emergency department.

The 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.