10% of A&E patients waited more than half a day last month as ‘unacceptable’ ED crisis rages on
The Royal College of Emergency Medicine is once again raising the alarm to government, as A&E waiting times for this time of year are among the worst they’ve ever been.
More than one in ten patients who attended an A&E in England last month waited more than 12 hours before being discharged, admitted or transferred, according to the latest data from NHS England.
The proportion of patients waiting 12 hours is the highest it has been in four years, at 10.1%.
That means a total of 157,574 people waiting more than half a day in an Emergency Department (ED) last month.
Dr Ian Higginson, RCEM President, said: “Our Emergency Departments (EDs) are bracing for what we know will be a brutal winter.
“EDs are already unable to cope with the pressure they are under right now, as today’s data shows. That’s before winter, and the seasonal illnesses which come with them, even hit.
“We will do our best to be there for our patients. But departments are overcrowded, and every day thousands of people are waiting more than half a day. It’s becoming harder and harder to stop more of them coming to harm.”
The unacceptable level of long ED waits is not predominantly driven by vast numbers of patients turning up to A&E with minor ailments, contrary to popular belief.
Instead, the issue can be largely attributed to a lack of available beds in inpatient hospital wards for patients who need them, or of alternatives for those who could be managed at home. These are the sickest patients, not the ones with less serious complaints.
Last month, an average of 13,647 beds were occupied by patients who were medically fit to be discharged – but could not leave hospital. This is typically because of delays in the hospital or a lack of social care capacity.
Dr Higginson continued: “We need urgent and concrete action to tackle delays at the ‘back door’ of our hospitals from the government.
“The Prime Minister has made it clear he intends to reform social care – that is a welcome step, but we cannot wait years before a decision is made about what changes are needed. There has been too much kicking of cans down the road. We also need hospitals to work properly in the evenings and weekends, so that patients don’t wait for tests, therapies, and medicines, and can leave when they are ready.
“This issue cannot be left to lie. The bottom line is this: our patients are coming to harm, and many are losing their lives because of long waits in A&E. We are so frustrated at the way this is being handled.
“We have seen year after year of neglect to this crumbling, yet essential, system. We cannot see another winter go by without real change and real support from government.”
