Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that a suspect, accompanied by police officers, was required to wait three hours for treatment at Gloucester Royal Hospital; and what discussions they have had with Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to ensure such incidents do not reoccur.

Patients are treated in order of clinical priority. Therefore, whilst there is a need to not delay police officers in accident and emergency departments (A&E) any longer than is necessary, patients with non-urgent needs may have to wait during busy times.

The national A&E performance target is target is for 95% of patients to be admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours. Therefore, a three hour wait is within the national guidelines.