A & E Delays

A&E delays in England reach new record level.

09:56 18 April 2016

A&E performance in England sank to a new low in February with only 87.8per cent of patients seen within the first four hours.

 

The main reason for the drop, according to NHS England data, is the national shortage of A&E doctors.

 

The staffing crisis is being cited as the reason why a unit in Lancashire is being forced to close overnight from next week. Bosses running the Chorley A&E said they had to take the step because they did not have the doctors to staff the unit.

 

Trust medical director Prof Mark Pugh said: "We simply cannot staff the rotas and it is an unacceptable risk to patient safety to attempt to provide an emergency service with no doctors available to see people."

 

Dr Cliff Mann, of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine added: "A&E units rely on locums more than others because we have problems filling posts with permanent staff and we have to provide a 24/7 service.

"This is not a unique situation."

 

Candace Imison, of the Nuffield Trust, said: "Today's figures are the very visible symptoms of a system facing both inexorably increasing patient numbers and severe financial strain."