Rise in A&E waits of over 12 hours

THERE has been an increase in the number of patients spending more than 12 hours at A&E units compared to a year ago.

Latest Welsh Government figures revealed that 4,069 patients spent in excess of 12 hours in A&E in January compared to 3,290 in the same month the year before. It was the highest number since March 2016 when 4,393 experienced such lengthy waits.

The Welsh Government wants no patient to spend that long in an accident and emergency unit.

At the other end of the scale, 79% of people arriving at Welsh A&Es spent less than four hours, down from the December figure of 80.4% but better than January 2015 (78.6%).

In Cwm Taf, which covers Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil, 80.6% of patients in Prince Charles and 76.9% in Royal Glamorgan Hospi- tal spent fewer than four hours in A&E.

In total in Cwm Taf, 545 patients were in these units for 12 hours or more in January. Overall, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg was the worst-performing health board, with nearly a quarter (23.6%) spending longer than four hours.

The Welsh Government target is for 95% of patients to spend less than four hours in all emergency care facilities from arrival until admission, transfer or discharge.

In response, a Welsh Government spokeswoman said NHS Wales’ urgent and emergency care services were under “extraordinary pressure” at times in January. She said: “Despite this A&E staff have enabled almost eight in every 10 patients to spend fewer than four hours in emergency care units from their arrival until admission, transfer or discharge.

“Preparation work to enable health boards to be ready for winter has large- ly helped to manage significant peaks alongside an additional £50m Welsh Government investment.

“However, the numbers of patients waiting for longer than 12 hours in A&E for a hospital bed is unacceptable. We will work with NHS Wales and partners to achieve improvements for patients.”