A mob forcing a Birmingham hospital into lockdown have been slammed as “disgusting.” A gang of young men drove the Queen Elizabeth Hospital into partial a lockdown after a shooting victim was admitted for treatment.
Police were called into the hospital after around a dozen thugs, some with their faces covered, were refused entry by hospital staff. The group claimed to be a friend of the youngster shot but under NHS rules were not allowed into the hospital or to see the patient.
As the situation heated up, some of the group were filmed throwing stones and threatening staff. Footage of the ‘volatile’ scenes were aired on Thursday night, January 16 on Channel 5’s A&E After Dark – and BirminghamLive readers were quick to share their anger at the disorder, and potential harm it may have caused.
READ MORE: Shocking moment threatening mob force Queen Elizabeth Hospital into lockdown
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Hundreds of BirminghamLive readers shared their thoughts on the footage, with many slamming the irresponsible behaviour of those who were adding pressure to an already strained NHS system.
Commenting on the BirminghamLive Facebook page, Heather Ann Ainsworth said: “This country is a disgrace time something was done hospitals shouldn’t have to put up with this it’s disgusting and scary they look a horrible bunch them outside.”
Jerome Foulger added: “Disgusting behaviour.. why do people think that can go round and treat hospital staff like this. Police need to step up and protect the staff. Stay safe people.”
Footage of the incident – which took place last year- shows Sister Sarah withholding information on the shooting victim. Speaking to camera, she explained: “You don’t know who these young people are.
The mob outside Queen Elizabeth Hospital
(Image: A&E After Dark/5Star)
“They are saying they’re friends. This young gentleman was shot. We don’t know if these are people that want to come and finish the job. We don’t know what relation they are. Our priority is to keep the patient safe.”
Reader Teresa Mason added: “I saw the program last night disgusting behaviour.” A concerned Caroline McAlinden said: “Absolutely shocking that it’s come to this with our front line staff as if they don’t have enough to deal with.”
James Gautrey said: “Ban the lot of them from using the NHS services.” Darren Kearney added simply: “I’m not surprised. Bring back National Service. Disgusting behaviour you lollipops.”
Lockdown incidents in hospitals are rare but there have been separate, unrelated, incidents at Queen Elizabeth in Birmingham in 2017 and 2023.
Just today, BirminghamLive reported how hospitals across the Midlands are facing huge demand from patients as the health service grapples with a winter crisis.
University Hospitals Birmingham Trust, which runs the city’s Queen Elizabeth, Good Hope and Heartlands Hospitals, as well as Solihull Hospital, declared a critical incident earlier this month because of pressures on services.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said on Thursday: “Despite NHS staff doing their level best, the experiences of patients this winter are unacceptable.
“Annual winter pressures, which will always exist, should not automatically lead to an annual winter crisis. We have ended the strikes, so for the first winter in three years staff are on the front line not the picket line, and protected more patients with flu vaccinations than last year, but there is much more to do.
“It will take time to turn the health service around so patients receive the standards of care they deserve, but it can be done.”
The full incident can be seen on the latest episode of A&E After Dark on 5Star.