Key Points
- Queen’s Hospital in Romford recorded its all-time high of 817 patients attending its A&E department on December 1, 2025.
- This marked the start of the busiest December ever for Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals Trust (BHRUT), with an average of 995 patients per day across Queen’s and King George Hospitals.
- BHRUT Chief Executive Matthew Trainer described the A&E at Queen’s as overwhelmed, noting it was built 20 years ago for 325 patients daily but now handles far more.
- Mr Trainer apologised for crowding and queues, stating the department is caring for far too many people for its size.
- The trust is seeking £35 million to rebuild the A&E, with plans going to the board in March 2026; Mr Trainer is confident of funding this year and hopeful for NHS England support.
- NHS England data published January 15, 2026, showed 840 patients waited over 12 hours for a ward bed after A&E arrival at Queen’s and King George in December 2025, up slightly from 829 in November but down 11% from October.
- Overall, emergency admissions at BHRUT dropped to 5,212 in December, while A&E attendances fell over 200 to 30,851.
- BHRUT’s Facebook post confirmed the busiest December ever with 995 average daily A&E patients, yet 75.9% treated within 4 hours.
- As reported by Sebastian Mann of The Havering Daily, BHRUT renewed its £35m A&E rebuild campaign, noting Queen’s saw almost 31,000 patients in December; on one day, 752 patients attended (slightly varying figure).
- Mr Trainer told The Havering Daily that staff tend to up to 50 corridor patients daily after a bad winter, costing £100,000 monthly in extra staff.
- BHRUT’s stakeholder update from Chief Executive Matthew Trainer highlighted corridor care ongoing, with Queen’s A&E designed for 300 patients but now seeing over double at peaks.
- In a December 5, 2025 stakeholder update, Mr Trainer referenced corridor care since 2023, with urgent care demand up 153 daily since then.
- BHRUT site notes in busiest periods over 800 daily attendances, with March 2025 at 31,186 total and one day at 813.
- ITV News reported on December 3, 2025, footage of ‘war zone’ corridor care at Queen’s, with patient Catherine describing no dignity and trauma; Mr Trainer apologised, saying it’s not right for patients or staff.
Romford (East London Times) January 26, 2026 – Queen’s Hospital in Romford has set a new benchmark for emergency department pressure, recording 817 attendances on December 1, 2025, amid the trust’s busiest December on record. Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals Trust (BHRUT) Chief Executive Matthew Trainer highlighted this all-time single-day record, apologising for the resulting crowding and queues that have overwhelmed the 20-year-old facility designed for just 325 patients daily.
Overall A&E attendances across BHRUT dipped slightly to 30,851 in December, with emergency admissions at 5,212, yet the surge initiated unprecedented strains including 840 instances of over-12-hour waits for ward beds at Queen’s and King George Hospitals, per NHS England data released January 15, 2026.
What Caused Queen’s Hospital’s Record A&E Attendance?
The unprecedented 817 patients on December 1, 2025, at Queen’s Hospital Romford kicked off what BHRUT described as its “busiest December ever”. As stated by BHRUT Chief Executive Matthew Trainer to the Recorder,
“We’re seeing record numbers of people coming to our two A&Es. Last month was our busiest December ever, with an average of 995 patients a day seeking help at Queen’s and King George Hospital.”
This average aligns with BHRUT’s official Facebook post from early January 2026, noting despite the peak pressures, 75.9% of patients were treated within four hours.
Mr Trainer further explained to the Recorder,
“The A&E at Queen’s is now 20 years old. It was built for 325 patients a day, but on 1 December, 817 people came in to Queen’s. This is an all time record for one day, and far too many people for a department of this size.”
Similar capacity concerns echoed in The Havering Daily, where local democracy reporter Sebastian Mann reported that the department, built two decades ago for 325 daily patients, now routinely sees up to 750 – double the limit – with 752 on one December day.
BHRUT’s own updates reinforce this trend; a stakeholder message from Chief Executive Matthew Trainer on the trust’s website noted that when Queen’s opened in 2006, it accommodated around 300 patients daily, but peaks now exceed double that, contributing to persistent corridor care. Another trust update from December 5, 2025, by Mr Trainer recalled inviting media in January 2023 to witness corridor care, with demand rising by an extra 153 people daily over three years.
How Severe Was the Corridor Care at Queen’s Hospital?
Corridor care plagued Queen’s Hospital throughout December 2025, exacerbated by the record attendances. NHS England data published on January 15, 2026, revealed 840 patients at Queen’s and King George waited more than 12 hours for a ward bed post-A&E arrival – a marginal rise from 829 in November but an 11% drop from October. This fits broader NHS trends, with BMA analysis showing national 12-hour waits at 50,775 in December 2025, 22 times higher than pre-pandemic levels.
As reported by ITV News on December 3, 2025, patient Catherine endured ‘war zone’ conditions, undergoing an ECG in a toilet due to no space, describing it as traumatising with no dignity. Mr Trainer responded to ITV News:
“I’m sorry patients are receiving care in our A&E corridors. It’s not right and it isn’t fair to our patients or to our staff.”
Sebastian Mann of The Havering Daily quoted Mr Trainer saying staff now tend up to 50 corridor patients daily after a “particularly bad winter”, costing £100,000 monthly in extra staff.
BHRUT Chief Executive Matthew Trainer’s stakeholder update lamented seeing patients in corridors during A&E walks, underscoring the human impact. The trust’s campaign page admits in busiest periods over 800 daily attendances lead to such care, prioritising the most unwell while others face long waits.
What Are BHRUT’s Plans to Fix the A&E Crisis?
BHRUT is actively campaigning for £35 million to rebuild Queen’s A&E. Mr Trainer told the Recorder the trust will present plans to its board of directors in March 2026, expressing confidence in receiving funding this year and hope for NHS England backing. Sebastian Mann in The Havering Daily detailed the renewal of this push since April 2025, when BHRUT ranked poorly in A&E performance; December saw nearly 31,000 admissions at Queen’s alone, second highest in London behind Barts Health’s 45,008.
Mr Trainer emphasised to The Havering Daily:
“This situation is bad for patients and their families, and for our staff.”
Trust updates show ongoing redesign efforts, mirroring improvements at King George Hospital. BHRUT’s 2025 year-in-numbers reported 346,555 total A&E visits trust-wide, up 14,000 from prior year, alongside diagnostic expansions to cut waits.
What Do Official Statistics Reveal About Performance?
Despite records, some metrics improved. BHRUT treated 75.9% within four hours amid 995 daily averages. Attendances fell to 30,851 trust-wide, admissions to 5,212. NHS Providers’ December tracker noted 2.35 million national A&E visits (highest November on record), with 74.2% within four hours but rising 12-hour waits.
BBC analysis on January 15, 2026, showed one in 10 major A&E patients waited over 12 hours in 2025 nationally (1.75 million cases). BHRUT’s site logged peaks like 813 in March 2025. RCN warned of “devastating” winter, with 116,141 quarterly 12-hour waits.
Is Queen’s Hospital Facing Broader NHS Pressures?
Yes, Queen’s reflects systemic strains. ITV highlighted corridor care not unique, with RCN’s Patricia Marquis noting risks of harm and death, urging government action. BHRUT handles 100 daily ambulances at Queen’s. National investments include £450 million for urgent care, but local capacity lags.
Mr Trainer’s updates stress innovation from pandemic lessons to tackle backlogs. The trust plans police-social-ambulance meetings for youth crises and discharge improvements. Queen’s, serving 800,000, treats 150,000 A&E yearly but faced past CQC warnings.
