Norfolk's largest hospital was battling a storm of bed-blocking patients, Covid-related ward closures and emergency demand when a mother-of-two suffered a heart attack waiting for an ambulance, an inquest has heard.

Julie Hurn died at her home in Attleborough on June 25, 2022 - more than two hours after first calling for an ambulance with chest pains. She was 43.

An ambulance was only dispatched to her once a neighbour phoned to say she had gone into cardiac arrest - and by the time emergency care arrived it was too late to save her.

(Image: Hurn family)

An inquest into her death is being held this week and heard at the time 50 of the region's ambulances were stranded outside of Norfolk's three main hospitals, as the local NHS system struggled to cope with demand.

Of these, 19 were waiting to hand over patients at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital - where Mrs Hurn would likely have been taken.

Giving evidence at the inquest, its chief operating officer Chris Cobb revealed that at the time the Colney site was facing extreme pressures which hampered its ability to quickly release ambulances back into the community.

(Image: NNUH)

He said that on that date, the hospital had 195 patients occupying beds that did not require treatment but could not be discharged without care packages.

At the same time, one hospital ward was closed to new admissions due to a Covid-19 outbreak and 200 patients were waiting in the emergency department - almost four times its capacity.

He added that the James Paget in Gorleston and Queen Elizabeth in King's Lynn were operating with even less capacity than the N&N, meaning some of their patients were also being diverted to the Norwich hospital.

Mr Cobb said: "It is a tragedy that Mrs Hurn was not able to receive the care she needed."

The inquest is due to conclude on Thursday.