TRAFFIC chaos at Southend Hospital is delaying ambulances called out to attend emergencies.

They are losing precious minutes getting out of the car park as a result of queues of cars waiting to get in via Prittlewell Chase, which is closed off by a barrier when parks are full at peak time. The barriers only open when a space becomes available.

Katie Poel, spokeswoman for the ambulance service, confirmed emergency vehicles had problems in the car park and sometimes suffered delays of a few minutes.

She added: "As always, we would ask drivers to be courteous to ambulance vehicles, taking into consideration the fact delays could have a real impact on patients who need medical care."

Leigh town councillor Jean Rowswell, who regularly visits the hospital, said she became stuck for 20 minutes in a traffic jam and saw ambulances blocked in the grounds. She said: "Ambulances can't get out with their blue lights flashing. No one can get anywhere until a car moves to come out of the car park. It's one in and one out; the cars can't move or go anywhere."

Mrs Rowswell believes the barrier system should be removed so cars can at least enter the car park while they wait for spaces, instead of obstructing the road.

Pat Stone, a spokeswoman for the hospital, said: "There are two barrier entrances for cars to the hospital. We have been experiencing problems with the barrier system because of a lightning strike which affected the electronics system. That was resolved very quickly and the barriers were operated manually for a short time while it was being resolved. However, that hasn't affected the emergency ambulance access because they get a completely separate entrance."

Building work on a new 900-space multi-storey car park will start next year.