AN elderly man who suffered a suspected stroke was among patients diverted from Glasgow’s new hospital because there were no beds available.
GP referrals to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital were diverted to the Royal Alexander Hospital in Paisley yesterday after the hospital experienced a surge in admissions.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said that six patients were taken to the RAH in the morning but the hospital was taking admissions by the afternoon.
George Boyd, 83, was among the patients diverted after his GP diagnosed a suspected stroke.
His son David, said: “We were told that ambulances were being diverted to the RAH.
“They took him to Paisley, which to me is shambolic.
“Why are people getting turned away from this hospital? It is clearly not coping.”
A union source said: “It’s not even winter and already the impact of bed cuts and hospital closures is being felt at the coal face.
“NHSGGC and local councils need to get this sorted now before it becomes a full blown crisis.”
A spokeswoman for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “On occasion we ask that some patients referred to hospital by their GPs are taken to another site.
“This took place for six individuals this morning.
“This was due to some temporary delays that had occurred at the QEUH due to the number of patients requiring admission.
“We have now dealt with this surge and the department is now back to normal.”
It came as the latest figures showed A&E departments in Scotland’s hospitals have passed waiting-time targets for a second successive month.
A total of 95.2% of all patients were seen and either admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours in August, the second best monthly performance since July 2013.
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