‘Lost skill’ of first aid adds to A&E crisis

THEY are basic skills that could prove vital in an emergency.

But first aid is becoming a lost ability, with patients piling pressure on A&E departments because they are unable to assess a minor health issue.

As waiting times reach new highs, research shows 34.1 per cent of patients admitted themselves because they ‘didn’t know what to do’.

The most common reasons for attending were accidents resulting in minor injuries and fever in children, the British Red Cross study found.

More than 2.5million patients had to wait for longer than the four-hour maximum in English A&E units in 2016/17, with only 89.1 per cent seen within four hours. This is well below the 95 per cent target and the worst since records began in 2002/03.

Joe Mulligan, of the British Red Cross, said: ‘Clearer public information and first aid education could help people access the right type of care, which could ease some of the pressure on A&E, and reduce patient suffering.’

Dr Julie Mytton, of the University of the West of England, which led the research, added: ‘Many people wanted to avoid adding pressure to A&Es.’