![‘Worst summer on record’ for A&E waits in England](https://chadlaw.dnsupdate.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/GettyImages-157533457-690x388.jpg)
15
Oct 2019
‘Worst summer on record’ for A&E waits in England
Recent analysis has found that an average of 86 per cent of patients were admitted, transferred or discharged from A&E within four hours in the six months from April to September this year, the worst performance in that period since the 85 per cent target was brought in in 2004.
A spokesperson from NHS England said it had been “the busiest ever summer” for A&E departments, adding “In the past six months, there have been half a million more visits to A&E than at the same point last year”.
Doctors have warned that the system was “running out of resilience” and that the coming winter was going to be “really difficult”.
The Nuffield Trust’s Helen Buckingham, said “This is the worst summer on record. And the thing that we have to remember is that behind those numbers there are people.
“Looking forward to winter, the NHS has historically used the summer to catch its breath. It’s been much harder to do that this year. It’s not going to be easy.”
Dr Katherine Henderson, President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said “I think the system is running out of resilience. It looks like we are really struggling with our workforce at times and we’re not recovering as quickly as we used to.
“We’re seeing sicker, more complex older patients coming to the emergency department, very often those patients are the successes of the NHS.”
Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence claims, providing support and guidance after life-changing events. Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.
If you believe that you or a relative may have been injured as a result of clinical/medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our medical negligence solicitors on the freephone number below.
Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.
Freephone : 0800 304 738
- Like this ? Share with friends