BASILDON Hospital has been so overwhelmed with rising numbers of coronavirus patients that ambulances were diverted to other areas at least three times last week.

Ambulances carrying patients to Basildon – which has a dedicated Covid-19 unit – were forced to divert to Southend and Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford because of a lack of resources to cope.

It came as the hospital declared a critical incident and urged people not to visit unless essential.

Basildon has been designated as a Covid-19 hospital but with cases only at the beginning of the anticipated second wave and with the usual rise in winter admissions yet to start, it raises concerns over the hospital’s capacity to cope.

Andrew Pike, managing director at Basildon Hospital, said: “Last week, to support Basildon Hospital managing an increase of Covid positive patients, ambulances were diverted to our other sites at Broomfield and Southend Hospitals.

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Support - Andrew Pike

“Working as one trust, our hospitals are supporting each other when needed so our patients get the best possible care.

“This helped us to safely organise wards so patients could be admitted to the correct areas.

“Our services continue to remain open and we encourage patients with urgent healthcare needs to visit.”

Covid-19 patients from across south Essex are being treated at a specialist unit at Basildon Hospital.

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Under pressure - Basildon Hospital

It caters for 26 patients with capability to increase to 100 in the event of extreme surge.

The hospital would not confirm how many Covid-19 patients were admitted last week or if any of the diverted ambulances had Covid-19 patients on board.

A spokesman for the Save Southend NHS campaign group said: “Our East of England Ambulance Service Trust is still woefully under resourced in staff and vehicles, so all these extra journeys will put more pressure on them.”