A STUDENT nurse has spoken out after being stuck in a hospital car park for nearly three hours after a cock up over traffic lights.

Drivers leaving Worcestershire Royal Hospital in Worcester were condemned to wait in their cars yesterday (November 5) for hours after traffic lights at a nearby roadworks were not removed in time.

The traffic lights on Newtown Road where Worcestershire County Council is carrying out roadworks were supposed to be removed at 3.30pm but remained there throughout the evening.

Cars reportedly moved only a few metres over the period, reportedly for the second day on the trot. 

The hospital has acknowledged the problem and said the roadworks were adding to congestion issues and staff were being positioned at pinch points to help drivers.

Sasha Cother, a student nurse who was stuck in the chaos at the hospital, said on Tuesday: "I've been trying to leave here since about 4pm, it's now past 6.30pm and I've moved about four spaces. 

"I know traffic can be bad but I think it's definitely unusual for it to take this long to leave the hospital car park. 

"When I first stopped I thought maybe this would last for maybe 45 minutes or an hour but it's now been more than two and a half hours.

"It's just horrendous and appalling.

Miss Cother continued: "It's diabolical and definitely frustrating because we feel trapped. 

"My colleague is still on call, she is also stuck in this, what happens if she is called out? 

"At one point a car went back in and it looked like doctors and nurses had to go outside and take an elderly woman back in. 

"It definitely makes you rethink wanting to come back here.

"I'm not sure what the hell was going on, security came out and id something and then it all seemed to clear away pretty quickly in the end."

According to witnesses the traffic dispersed at around 7pm. 

(Image: Sasha Cother)

One lane was closed on Newtown Road for the roadworks.

According to One Network, the roadworks should be removed on Friday, November 8.

The county council  apologised for the inconvenience.

A spokesperson for the council said: "We are aware that this is a high volume traffic area, particularly at peak times, and we're always mindful of this when scheduling works in the area.

"The permit for our footway widening works on Newtown Road stated that traffic lights must be operational between 9.30am and 3.30pm, but should be removed daily.  

"There was unfortunately a miscommunication issue with sub-contractors, but this has now been rectified.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused."

(Image: Sasha Cother)

Stephen Collman, managing director of Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We are aware of the difficulties with congestion on the Worcestershire Royal Hospital site, particularly at peak times and we apologise to staff, patients and visitors who are affected by this.

“Roadworks and road closures in the near vicinity have had an additional impact on this, this week.

“We are committed to resolving congestion issues as quickly as we can, and are currently working on a number of options. 

“Where the late afternoon/early evening congestion is causing the most disruption, we also have members of our parking teams stationed at key pinch points around the site to help control the flow of traffic more effectively.”