1 week Ago By [email protected] (Claire Harrison)
Nuneaton hospital bosses have apologised for the places where some patients have been treated. It comes as the George Eliot Hospital continues to experience 'high, sustained demand'. It has meant that some patients have been treated in what are officially known as Temporary Escalation Spaces (TES).
According to NHS England care, TES refers to care given in any unplanned settings, such as corridors). It happens in departments experiencing patient crowding, including beds and chairs, but is not considered standard by NHS England nor the 'Eliot itself. In fact, it has apologised to patients who have been cared for in a TES.
READ MORE: Locals hail 'good news for once' as Nuneaton firm reveals new store READ MORE: Every VE Day 80 event in Nuneaton and Bedworth listed It came as there was 'boarding' of 137 patients in February. 'Boarding' is when patients are held in an emergency department or another other area after being admitted because no inpatient beds are available. "In February 2025, as per the Trust’s Full Capacity Protocol, ‘boarding’ of patients occurred on 27 days, with patients being nursed in temporary escalation spaces," the board report explained.
"There was a total of 137 patients ‘boarding’ throughout February 2025with 61 patients ‘boarding’ for more than 24 hours. All patients had a risk assessment as per protocol prior to being cared for in the Temporary Escalation Space." During a board meeting in public, Natalie Green, chief nursing officer, said: "I would like to make an apology.
"We do still, unfortunately have high, sustained demand and, on occasion, they (patients) are being cared for in temporary escalation spaces. We are striving to reduce this." She said that they are looking at how to reduce the use of temporary escalation spaces during meetings which happen 'each and every day'.
It is no secret that the hospital is no longer seeing waves of demand. Demand has now gone from traditionally being during certain seasons of the year, to all year round. This, combined with difficulties in discharging some patients who are medically fit, is piling pressure on the 'Eliot.
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