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Hillsborough inquests: Hospital had ‘no chance to prepare for major incident’ Hillsborough inquests: hospital had ‘no chance to prepare for major incident’
(about 3 hours later)
A Sheffield hospital flooded with casualties after the 1989 Hillsborough football stadium tragedy was “on the back foot” from the start because other emergency services had not told staff that a major incident had been declared, the inquests into the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans has heard.A Sheffield hospital flooded with casualties after the 1989 Hillsborough football stadium tragedy was “on the back foot” from the start because other emergency services had not told staff that a major incident had been declared, the inquests into the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans has heard.
The consultant in charge of A&E at the Northern General hospital, at the time, told the hearing, at Birchwood Park, Warrington, that preparations were still being put in place at the hospital to cope with the disaster as patients arrived at the building in large numbers.The consultant in charge of A&E at the Northern General hospital, at the time, told the hearing, at Birchwood Park, Warrington, that preparations were still being put in place at the hospital to cope with the disaster as patients arrived at the building in large numbers.
It led to the hospital putting its own emergency plan into action shortly after the first patient arrived at 3.27pm on 15 April. Staff were informed of the situation by ambulance crews.It led to the hospital putting its own emergency plan into action shortly after the first patient arrived at 3.27pm on 15 April. Staff were informed of the situation by ambulance crews.
A switchboard operator at the hospital took a call from the South Yorkshire police operations room at 3.14pm who was told: “It’s just to inform you there has been an accident at Hillsborough football ground and to put you on standby for casualties. There is quite a few people seriously injured apparently.”A switchboard operator at the hospital took a call from the South Yorkshire police operations room at 3.14pm who was told: “It’s just to inform you there has been an accident at Hillsborough football ground and to put you on standby for casualties. There is quite a few people seriously injured apparently.”
Between 3.13pm and 3.22pm, the jury was told, there were numerous mentions of a “major incident” in communications from South Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service headquarters and that two overspill hospitals, Barnsley and Rotherham, had been informed of the development.Between 3.13pm and 3.22pm, the jury was told, there were numerous mentions of a “major incident” in communications from South Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service headquarters and that two overspill hospitals, Barnsley and Rotherham, had been informed of the development.
However the Northern, the main hospital for the casualties, was at no point given the same information from the ambulance service.However the Northern, the main hospital for the casualties, was at no point given the same information from the ambulance service.
The consultant, James Wardrope, said: “Had the hospital received a formal notification at 3.14pm then the switchboard would have implemented the major incident plan and they would have undertaken the procedures set out in that plan for their area.The consultant, James Wardrope, said: “Had the hospital received a formal notification at 3.14pm then the switchboard would have implemented the major incident plan and they would have undertaken the procedures set out in that plan for their area.
“The first priority would be to inform key areas such as the emergency department to call in more staff ... I would see if they had any more information about the nature of the severity of the casualties that we were receiving. We would be clearing patients, setting out extra resuscitation points, calling in extra staff and calling in staff from the rest of the hospital.”“The first priority would be to inform key areas such as the emergency department to call in more staff ... I would see if they had any more information about the nature of the severity of the casualties that we were receiving. We would be clearing patients, setting out extra resuscitation points, calling in extra staff and calling in staff from the rest of the hospital.”
He said it would have perhaps meant four or five more doctors could have been available to work in the resuscitation area.He said it would have perhaps meant four or five more doctors could have been available to work in the resuscitation area.
Wardrope was on call on the day and, at about 3.20pm, was told by phone by a hospital charge nurse that they had been put on standby due to “some type of incident” at Hillsborough. He arrived at the hospital just after 3.30pm and noticed an “unusual number” of ambulances outside.Wardrope was on call on the day and, at about 3.20pm, was told by phone by a hospital charge nurse that they had been put on standby due to “some type of incident” at Hillsborough. He arrived at the hospital just after 3.30pm and noticed an “unusual number” of ambulances outside.
Christina Lambert QC, counsel for the inquest, asked the doctor to indicate the numbers arriving. He replied, with his voice breaking, that seriously ill patients were coming in “large numbers”. He said: “Ambulances were sometimes bringing two, three or even, in one documented case four seriously ill patients at once.”Christina Lambert QC, counsel for the inquest, asked the doctor to indicate the numbers arriving. He replied, with his voice breaking, that seriously ill patients were coming in “large numbers”. He said: “Ambulances were sometimes bringing two, three or even, in one documented case four seriously ill patients at once.”
Wardrope told the hearing that 56 patients were admitted within a hour and that 88 casualties went through the doors on the day. Eleven were either pronounced dead or died in the A&E department.Wardrope told the hearing that 56 patients were admitted within a hour and that 88 casualties went through the doors on the day. Eleven were either pronounced dead or died in the A&E department.
He told Lambert that he did not feel there were sufficient numbers of staff at his disposal initially to cope with the casualty numbers. “My general observation is that at the start we did not have a chance to prepare the department or the hospital properly. We were already receiving seriously injured casualties when the major incident was called by the A&E department and that put us on the back foot.”He told Lambert that he did not feel there were sufficient numbers of staff at his disposal initially to cope with the casualty numbers. “My general observation is that at the start we did not have a chance to prepare the department or the hospital properly. We were already receiving seriously injured casualties when the major incident was called by the A&E department and that put us on the back foot.”
The hearing, before the appeal court judge Lord Justice Goldring, continues.The hearing, before the appeal court judge Lord Justice Goldring, continues.