A&E waiting times across England are 'getting worse'

The time it takes to provide medical attention in accident and emergency units has dropped to its lowest level for a decade.

16:46 09 January 2015

A&E waiting times in the last three months of 2014 were at their slowest in a decade with just 92.6per cent of patients seen within four hours. Unfavorably, the data released for the week up to Sunday saw just 86.7per cent of patients seen in four hours. The target is at least 95per cent.

England’s latest performance is 86.7per cent in the past week while Northern Ireland is at 80.5per cent in November. A&E in Scotland served 93.5per cent of the patients within the allowed time, but their target was higher at 98per cent. Wales, on the other hand, served 83.8% patients within four hours in November.

The figures, which include data for walk-in centres and minor injury units, confirm that the four-hour waiting time target is being regularly missed in several places across United Kingdom.

Data released also shows other pressures inside the hospitals that force them to hire extra staff and cancelling non-emergency care such as routine operations.

The release of the data comes on the day that private firm Circle announced it was pulling out of the contract to run Hinchingbrooke Hospital in Cambridgeshire.