Kamis, 31 Mei 2012

Number of patients waiting more than 4 hours in A&E reaches 8-year peak in England's hospitals

Number of patients waiting more than 4 hours in A&E reaches 8-year peak in England's hospitals

  • 4.2 per cent of AE patients waited longer than four hours from January to March, compared with 3.4 per cent in the same period last year
  • Report authors warn increase 'reflects growing pressures on the hospital sector'

By Graham Smith

PUBLISHED: 10:42 EST, 31 May 2012 | UPDATED: 11:38 EST, 31 May 2012


The number of patients facing waiting times of more than four hours in England's accident and emergency units has reached an eight-year peak.

The proportion of people facing the lengthy wait for treatment has increased by more than a quarter, reaching its highest level since 2004, according to NHS performance data.

The King’s Fund report showed that 4.2 per cent of AE patients waited longer than four hours from January to March, compared with 3.4 per cent in the same period last year.

NHS report: The number of patients facing waiting times of more than four hours in England's accident and emergency units has reached an eight-year peak

NHS report: The number of patients facing waiting times of more than four hours in England's accident and emergency units has reached an eight-year peak

Its authors said the increase was a cause for concern and reflected growing pressures on the hospital sector.

On a national level, the Government’s target that no more than 5 per cent of patients face more than a four-hour wait in AE was met last year, the think-tank’s quarterly monitoring report found.

But 48 NHS providers breached the threshold in the final quarter of last year compared with 18 in the second quarter.

The King’s Fund said the rise coincides with emerging evidence of increases in 'trolley waits' as some hospitals struggle to find beds for patients.

Data obtained from 60 NHS finance directors as part of the study also revealed that 40 per cent of trusts did not meet their productivity targets in 2011/12.

The report said: 'This will be a significant concern as last year was the first in a four-year spending squeeze, during which the NHS needs to find £20 billion in productivity improvements.'

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley disputed the report's findings

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley disputed the report's findings

Just four of the finance chiefs questioned said their organisation was forecasting a deficit this year, backing up national figures that estimate a surplus of £1.5billion across the NHS.

The study found the NHS was performing well against a number of other key indicators including hospital treatment waiting times and superbug infections.

The proportion of inpatients waiting more than 18 weeks for treatment fell, while outpatient waits remained static, the report said.

C difficile and MRSA infections dropped by 33 per cent and 14 per cent respectively.

John Appleby, chief economist at the King’s Fund, said: 'Overall, the NHS continues to perform well, despite the spending squeeze. However, this masks growing pressures in hospitals and significant performance issues in some NHS organisations.

'Given the strength of the political commitment to keep waiting times low, the steep rise in AE waits will be a concern for the Government.

'The productivity challenge will only get harder, so evidence that large numbers of NHS organisations failed to meet their productivity targets last year does not bode well.'

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: 'The King’s Fund report is wrong to suggest the proportion of people "waiting" more than four hours to be seen in AE is growing.

'This measure records the total time people spend in the department, including the time they are being treated; it does not just measure waiting.

'People are waiting on average only 49 minutes for their treatment to start. In addition, the NHS has continued to meet or exceed the target of 95 per cent of patients spending a total time of four hours or less in AE.'
 

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and on a positive note, impressive cuts in infection rates! Well done NHS!!! Especially given that majority of patients come into hospital with mrsa and c-diff but because hospitals pick them up they end up on their numbers.

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Maybe due to all the extra people crammed in during liebours thirteen years of destruction, same with schools, housing and lack of jobs.

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i know people who have gone to a and e with a cold, also a small splash of hot fat on their hand and both of them were waiting for hours. Hardly suprising really. The people i know who have had real injuries and seen immediately, as you would expect.

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How many of those people need to be in AE? Can't be bothered to make a gp appointment go to AE

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Maybe if people who cannot be bothered to wait to see their GP, or have a splinter, or are a bit drunk stop going, maybe the waiting times for genuine patients would decrease. Treat it as accident or an emergency! Not as a one stop shop.

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Totally agree with "Mary Poppins" The AE stands for Accident and Emergency unit, it's NOT a drop in centre for the lazy so and so's who can't be bothered to see their own GPs. THAT'S WHY there are such long waits!!!!! Same with some people who use ambulances as a free taxi service to and from hospital appointments, also bringing their relatives with them and using up the spaces that REAL needy patients should be having. BLAME THEM.

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mel , southeast, 31/5/2012 20:00 ...............which is exactly why genuine emergencies have to wait so long....

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The clock only starts once you are taken into the department and 'booked in'. They don't count the 2,3 or 4 hours you just spent waiting outside in an ambulance. - Winston Smith, Room 101, I've lost count of the number of non emergency cases that call 999 because it's their right or they can't get a lift to AE and they wouldn't dream of seeing a GP. Maybe that adds to the wait. The shame is for those really needing to be in AE.

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AE is being used as a fast track, even if it takes 4 hours, because to get to see a consultant who is not on strike is a joke.I went to the Doctor with an Achilles Tendon problem,took 3 weeks to get an appointment at the Hospital,needed an Ultra sound which took another 3 weeks,I now have an appointment to see the consultant for the results that is 9 weeks,to date 15 weeks and still in severe pain,AE would have been the best route

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Coincides with the budget and bed cuts - it's not rocket science!

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