According to reports, 10 ambulances have been forced to queue outside Southend hospital in Essex this afternoon.
Sources have revealed the ambulances are unable to unload patients due to the Accident and Emergency department being busy.
It is thought more patients are being admitted to the hospital than have been discharged.
This comes as hospitals are coping with coronavirus patients at a time when they are usually at their busiest due to the winter weather.
Southend Hospital has declared an “internal critical incident” according to the BBC’s Simon Dedman.
No statement has been released from the hospital or the Mid and South Essex Foundation Trust.
Essex has seen a surge in cases with 3,519 in the week ending December 5.
That is an increase of 799 cases from the previous week.
According to Government statistics that is a 26.2 increase in cases over the last seven days.
More to follow…
