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Patients in the West Midlands are suffering as hospital bed and staff shortages mean ambulances cannot unload patients, a senior ambulance boss says.
Steve Wheaton, of West Midlands Ambulance Service, said nearly 2,000 ambulances had waited more than an hour this month to hand over an A&E patient.
In one case, a paramedic in Dudley waited more than six hours, assistant chief officer Mr Wheaton said.
He said the situation was the worst he had known in his 20-year career.
The service covers Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Staffordshire and the West Midlands conurbation.
The ambulance service is regularly leaving paramedics with patients in corridors - called cohorting.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-21874523
Steve Wheaton, of West Midlands Ambulance Service, said nearly 2,000 ambulances had waited more than an hour this month to hand over an A&E patient.
In one case, a paramedic in Dudley waited more than six hours, assistant chief officer Mr Wheaton said.
He said the situation was the worst he had known in his 20-year career.
The service covers Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Staffordshire and the West Midlands conurbation.
The ambulance service is regularly leaving paramedics with patients in corridors - called cohorting.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-21874523