LONG queues of ambulances waiting outside Southend Hospital could become a thing of the past, as a new £235k "handover unit" officially opens.

Southend Hospital has been plagued by long queues of ambulances waiting to drop off patients in recent years, with some residents reporting waiting seven hours or more before being admitted to the hospital this year.

In a huge boost to the hospital and patients, the "handover unit" will allow for patients to be dropped off, accessed by nurses in the unit, and then moved in the hospital when a bed is available.

READ MORE >> Essex issued quirky Bonfire Night advice to keep pets happy and environment safe

Crucially, it will allow ambulances to get back on the road rather than waiting outside the hospital.

The new unit will have space for 12 patients.

Andrew Pike, chief operating officer and acting managing director at the Mid and South Essex Hospital Trust, said: “We are aware there are challenges in Southend, as the emergency department is quite small and means it quickly gets filled up when there are periods of high demand.

“When surges happen, we want to ensure that patients can get the care they need as quickly as possible and be looked after in good accommodation.

“We hope this extra capacity will help us to do that.”

It is a joint project between the East of England Ambulance Service, Mid and South Essex Trust and Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board.

The unit monitored by emergency care staff, nurses, and healthcare assistants.

Tom Abell, chief executive at EEAST, added: “The introduction of an Ambulance Handover Unit at Southend Hospital site will release more vehicles and crews for responding to emergencies.

“It will also help us to meet the challenges of the coming winter months, when we know demand will increase.

“When people call 999 the public expect the ambulance service to attend, units like this will help make sure that we can.”

Overall, the new unit is part of a wider programme of work led by partners in health and social care across the Mid and South Essex to help meet the anticipated increase in winter demand.

The unit will open this week, however the hospital was unable to state what day it would officially open.