AMBULANCES have been queuing outside emergency departments as the three hospitals run by a Hampshire trust are full to capacity.

Speaking at an event focusing on research initiatives at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT), chief executive Alex Whitfield said every bed has been full this week at the three hospitals run by the trust – Basingstoke, Andover and Winchester.

She said: “You will have heard about ambulances queuing outside of hospitals… we have been focused on making sure that’s not the case.”

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However, she added: “This morning [February 21] we did have ambulances waiting – our hospitals were full. Just in the last week, every bed in the hospital has been full and we opened extra beds including in space that was used for research, so we can look after the patients we are caring for.”

She said the trust was working with partners to “get patients home” and urged the public to take relatives home from hospital when they are ready, to help free up bed space.

Ms Whitfield said the hospitals are still caring for a significant number of Covid patients and said mask-wearing is still compulsory in many areas.

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She added: “It’s really important we do everything we can to keep our patients safe.”

A message on the trust’s website advises that its sites are “particularly busy at the moment” adding: “Our teams are working hard to care for everyone who comes through the front doors of our hospitals. Think carefully about whether your illness is an emergency before you come in – if you are unsure, dial 111 or visit 111.nhs.uk.”