Queen's Medical Centre A&E reports 7% rise in patients

The number of people treated in accident and emergency at Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre has increased by 7% in the past three months.

The department, which is one of the busiest in the East Midlands, treats more than 400 people a day and more than 150,000 a year.

Consultant Demas Esberger said the increase was putting pressure on staff.

He said the department was "busy and full most of the time - there is little time for the staff to relax".

"It is full on - all the time," he added.

'No clear reason'

The hospital has spent £800,000 on improving facilities, including new cubicles and an improved waiting area.

The reception area has separate entrances for adults and children for the first time.

The changes will help reduce the amount of time patients have to wait between different parts of their treatment, Mr Esberger said.

He said there was not any clear reason for the increase.

"We have seen 2,500 extra patients so far this year… that works out to about 10,000 more per year - and averages out at about 30 extra a day," he said.

At the current rate of increase, the hospital will treat an estimated 161,000 emergency patients this year.