MORE than 20 ambulances were reported to be backed up at Torbay Hospital accident and emergency over the weekend waiting to take patients into the department.

On Saturday and Sunday, patients reported there were at least 15 ambulances waiting, at time this numbered 21, with patients outside the department with more waiting outside the hospital’s main entrance. 

Torbay and South Devon NHS Trust said the emergency department was ‘very busy’ and asked patients to help by using the most appropriate service for their condition. 

Hospital bosses appealed to patients to only visit the emergency department if the situation was life threatening or needing critical care such as suspected heart attack, breathing difficulties and unconsciousness.

Some patients said they had been waiting outside for more than 11 hours. 

NHS bosses advised people to consider using the urgent treatment centre in Newton Abbot or all 111.