A&E deaths at Royal Blackburn Hospital under investigation

One death was in a corridor and the second followed a collapse in a bathroom.

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT) Corporate Risk Register said both were linked to 'poor care'.

Russ Mclean - chair of the local health watchdog - said he was "devastated, but not surprised, to hear of the deaths".

The A&E department at Royal Blackburn has continued to see increased demand in recent months, with numbers up by 100 people a day compared with last year, leading to long waits and patients being put on beds in corridors due to a lack of space.

Councillor Damian Talbot, chair of the Blackburn with Darwen Health and Wellbeing Board, said he was concerned at the fatalities and hoped "'the ELHT investigation is thorough and measures are put in place to prevent any repeat".

Patient Voices' chair Russ McLean said the deaths were not a surprise

The two deaths are revealed in the papers for March's meeting of the trust board.

In the section on the Corporate Risk Register it reads: "We continue to see increased overcrowding in the Emergency Department (ED) with 30 patients on average on the ED corridor, 14 patients in resuscitation, and 24 patients on the main hospital corridor.

"The service has had two deaths in the ED; one bathroom collapse and one on the corridor linked to poor care."

The health trust's chief executive, Martin Hodgson, said: "I cannot publicly discuss individual patients' care, but in general terms, it is undoubtedly the case that our colleagues sometimes have to work under significant pressure, in difficult circumstances, but they will always do their very best to give care, compassion and dignity to their patients – and I want to thank them for their ongoing hard work and resilience.

ELHT chief executive Martin Hodgson

"Where we see clinical incidents occur, we have robust systems and processes in place to investigate so we can learn, and will always offer our sincere apologies to patients and families affected.

"The A&E at Royal Blackburn is one of the busiest emergency departments in England and we are regularly breaking records for the number of people who come in for treatment each week, and this includes a lot of very poorly people who need to be admitted for further care.

"Unfortunately, when all the cubicles are full of patients, we don't have any choice but to use corridor space.

"It is not something any of us want to do. We cannot close the doors to those in need but when there is no other available space, it is our only option.

"Please be assured that whilst patients are waiting for a bed, they are being cared for, reviewed, assessed and supported."

Mr McLean, chair of East Lancashire's Patient Voices Group, said: "I asked Martin Hodgson about the long waits too many patients are experiencing in the emergency department, and he acknowledged and sincerely apologised.

"He assured me no patient is left unattended. I hear about this from patients every day and some of the stories I hear break my heart.

"I have been in the emergency department and seen for myself the stoicism of the staff there, running around doing the job of six staff.

"Waiting on a hospital corridor for NHS treatment in 2024 is not right in any civilised society.

"I am devastated, but not surprised, to hear of the deaths and my thoughts go out to the relatives and friends of these and all the patients who need to attend the emergency department."

Cllr Talbot said: "All deaths are of concern, and I hope and trust the ELHT investigation is thorough and measures are put in place to prevent any repeat

"The issue of hospital overcrowding is being seen across the country. The team at Royal Blackburn Hospital are working extremely hard to ensure patient care in circumstances of significant strain.

"Demand is clearly way beyond capacity.

"The NHS is at breaking point and if we consider that East Lancashire Hospitals Trust is one of the best-regarded trusts in the country it highlights what problems are being faced."

In February, more than 20,000 people visited A&E at Royal Blackburn Hospital, the equivalent of 100 people more per day compared with 2023.

The NHS continues to urge people to only attend A&E in life or limb-threatening situations, and instead visit a GP surgery, a local pharmacist, or contact NHS 111 for medical advice and guidance on where to get the most appropriate treatment.