Ambulance 'chaos' at hospital on Boxing Day

A PARAMEDIC has revealed the 'total chaos' at a hospital's A&E department on Boxing Day, with images showing queues of ambulances with ill patients on board queuing up outside.

- DAMON WILKINSON AND PAUL BRITTON

The paramedic told the M.E.N. they hadn't seen anything like it since the coronavirus pandemic - and said 'up to 15 ambulances' were waiting outside the Royal Bolton Hospital at one point during the day.

The hospital's A&E department was said to be very busy' yesterday with waiting times of up to four hours.

The paramedic told how they arrived at the Royal Bolton at lunchtime on Boxing Day with a patient and described the situation as 'total chaos.

The paramedic, who asked not to be named, said: "It was chaos. It has not been like this for years, since Covid. It was absolutely total chaos and I don't use the term lightly. The staff at A&E are doing everything that they can, but it is bad. There are ambulances everywhere.