Kentish Express Ashford & District
Hospitals fail to hit waiting time targets
Nearly 15,000 patients seeking emergency care across Kent faced waits of longer than four hours last month.
NHS data revealed that in December, A&E departments across the county fell significantly short of the government set target, which stipulates that 95% of patients are treated within four hours.
Nationally, the December 2019 waiting time performances are the worst since the target was introduced in 2004, with pressure on social care and not enough hospital beds given as reasons.
All Kent trusts came below their December 2018 A&E waiting times, with 14,879 patients not seen within the target time.
At East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust’s
A&E departments, 73.9% of patients were treated in four hours or less, compared to 75.2% in the same month last year.
A trust spokesman said: “The NHS saw record numbers of patients in emergency departments across the country in December and like trusts elsewhere, our hospitals were extremely busy.
“Our staff treated more than 4,000 additional patients in December 2019 compared with the same period the previous year and work tirelessly to provide the best possible care.
“Despite the additional pressures, almost three quarters were seen within the national standard and we continue to focus on improving that figure so that no one has to wait longer than we would like.
“People who don’t need emergency treatment can help us by keeping emergency departments for emergencies and life-threatening situations only, and by using alternatives such as minor injuries units, GP surgeries and pharmacies instead who can provide convenient and effective help for minor illnesses and injuries.”
Some 19,761 attended the trust’s A&E department, compared to 18,026 in December 2018.
Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust saw the most drastic change, with only 70.7% of patients seen in the target time, compared to 78.4% last year.
Medway NHS Foundation Trust had the worst waiting times, with 69.7% of patients being treated in four hours or less.
At Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, 85% of patients seeking emergency care were seen within the target last month, compared to 87.5% during the same period in 2018.