Patients say the new A&E waiting room is 'insufficiently sized'.

Patients have informed the BBC that the waiting area of a new £58 million emergency department (ED) is "insufficiently spacious."

The Queen Alexandra (QA) Hospital building was inaugurated in November.

Hospital executives vowed to provide "an improved experience" for patients; however, some individuals have reported to BBC Radio Solent that they found the facilities to be "overcrowded."

Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust reported that the room was "extremely crowded" due to increased demand.

The new ED at the QA Hospital replaced the previous building which dated from the late 70s and had seen lengthy waiting times and long ambulance queues in recent years.

Last year, the trust announced its inauguration, highlighting that it places "the patient journey at its core," featuring additional space for critically ill patients and "specially designed zones for optimal care delivery."

The new facility includes a designated waiting area and emergency department specifically for patients who are under 18 years of age.

However callers to BBC Radio Solent, as part of a day of reports on waiting times in hospitals in the UK, said the new waiting area for adults was not fit for the level of demand.

Kevin, a resident of Petersfield, reported that he entered the emergency department experiencing breathing issues at the start of December.

"It was packed, and I considered heading back home. I'm really scared to try it again."

Julie from Portsmouth, another contributor, shared that she was directed to the emergency department by the 111 service due to experiencing chest pains.

"Several individuals had been sitting in chairs throughout the night, for over 11 hours."

She mentioned that the staff were retrieving additional chairs as some attendees were sitting on the floor or standing.

"They were also providing sandwiches and warm beverages to people."

Julie commended the staff, noting that she was assessed promptly and received excellent care.

"The team was excellent, but the waiting area left much to be desired."

Kevin remarked, "Many individuals brought along two family members, which complicates the situation even further."

"The hospital should inform that only patients are allowed to wait when situations become like that."

Portsmouth Hospitals Trust has not verified the capacity of the new waiting room, nor has it indicated whether it offers more or fewer seats compared to the previous facility.

A representative stated: "Our emergency department is experiencing a high volume of visitors, resulting in crowded waiting areas."

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust has requested that the community assist by limiting attendance to the emergency department to just one accompanying person per visit, unless they are with a child.

It was stated that reducing the number of individuals in the hospital could aid in lowering the spread of infections.

The trust reported critical incidents on three separate occasions over the span of three months last winter.

In November, chief nurse Liz Rix stated that the newly established department would not solve all their issues, but emphasized that the hospital was "as ready as it could be" for the winter season.