Concern as A&E units miss targets

NHS figures have revealed English A&E units have missed their waiting time targets for the first time since mid-April.

Hospitals aim to see 95% of accident and emergency patients within four hours, but last week the number dipped to 94.8%, down from 95.6% in the previous week. However, this drop is not as severe as it was in the spring, where a low of 91.6% was recorded.

These statistics come just days after it was revealed that ambulance waiting time targets are also being missed. A&E units prefer to have patients moved from the ambulance into the hospital within 15 minutes of arrival.

While most units reported an average of around 20 minutes, UK figures for the period between August and October revealed a hospital in Wales recorded its longest wait at six hours and 22 minutes. In the North-west of England, the longest wait was three hours and 23 minutes.

Any wait of over half an hour can result in a fine for the hospital involved, but patients cannot be transferred into the building until there are staff available to treat them.

Traditionally, December is seen as one of the most challenging times of the year for the NHS, and it is not uncommon for targets to be narrowly missed during the extra pressure of the festive season.

Dame Barbara Hakin, chief operating officer of NHS England, stressed that the 95% target was “ambitious”, adding that it was “important to stress that the NHS continues to deliver a good service”.

Long waits in half of Greater Manchester hospitals

Weekly figures for 12 Greater Manchester hospitals show that 50% dipped below the 95% waiting time target last week.

This data is calculated based on the number of patients admitted, transferred or discharged in under four hours after their arrival. Both of the region’s busiest hospitals missed the target, while two, Lindley House Health Centre and Pennine Care, achieved 100%.

Central Manchester University Hospital posted the lowest percentage at 91.9%, while others to fall short were Pennine Acute Hospitals (92.7%), Stockport (93.4%), Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh (93.7%), University Hospital of South Manchester (94.3%) and Salford Royal (94.9%).

As the data is provided weekly, figures regularly fluctuate, but it is also a good way of noting which hospitals are consistently achieving or failing to meet the required standard.

Medical negligence claims against A&E departments

The primary concern for patients is obviously that a longer wait could mean their condition worsens and becomes harder to treat.

In cases where your accident and emergency waiting time exceeded NHS targets and you feel this has directly contributed to your subsequent ill health, pain or injury, Sheldon Davidson Solicitors may be able to help you with an A&E Medical Negligence Claim.

If you feel as though you have sustained a personal injury as a result of third-party negligence, Sheldon Davidson Solicitors' team of Manchester Personal Injury Lawyers will handle all aspects of your medical negligence claim, ensuring you are awarded the maximum compensation available to you.

Sheldon Davidson Solicitors are personal injury claim specialists with expertise in settling a broad range of Personal Injury Claims, including everything from Construction Accident Claims to Medical Negligence Claims, such as A&E Medical Negligence Claim.

We have a strong record of obtaining practical financial support and high-quality medical care for our clients. To find out more about pursuing your claim, contact our team or fill in our online claim form.