Lifeguards queuing outside Royal Shrewsbury Hospital on Tuesday evening. Photo: Bernie Bentick
The incident, ahead of strike action by ambulance workers, was announced by Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital (SaTH) NHS Trust on Tuesday afternoon.
The decision came as more than a dozen ambulances lined up at the two hospitals, the queue stretching as far as the main road at both the Shrewsbury and Telford sites.
A family told how their father, who has a heart condition, was told he could not have anyone with him at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford because there was no room in the waiting room.
The family took him to the emergency room after being told they might have to wait hours for an ambulance.
In a message to staff, the trust said both hospitals were under significant pressure.
Staff have been urged to do everything they can to support the safe discharge of patients from hospital and reduce delays in handing over to an ambulance.
“Every ambulance available needs to be in the community as we head into tomorrow,” the release said.
The strike will see Unite members walk out from 6am until 5.59pm on Wednesday, while members of the GMB union will strike throughout the day.
West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) has confirmed the outcome of its discussions with staff about the level of service that will be provided during Wednesday’s strike action.
In a statement, WMAS director of emergency services operations delivery, Nathan Hudson, said there was an agreement for crews to attend “the most urgent calls such as cardiac arrests” as well as “other very serious cases such as heart attacks, strokes, difficulty breathing and maternity cases’.
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