Rise in number of patients visiting A&E across Wales
MORE people visited Welsh accident and emergency departments last month than in any other November since the statistics were first published, it has been revealed.
Latest Welsh NHS figures revealed that there were 82,565 A&E attendances in November, an increase of just over 2,660 compared to November 2016.
Eight out of 10 patients (82.9%) spent four hours or less in an emergency unit in November before being admitted, transferred or discharged, and 96.2% spent less than 12 hours.
It means 3,143 patients were in a Welsh emergency unit for more than 12 hours before being moved elsewhere.
The Welsh Government wants 95% of patients to spend less than four hours in an emergency unit – and they don’t want anyone there for 12 hours or more.
Over the year to November 2017, the number of visits was up 5% on the same time in 2013.
Medical professionals are urging people to steer clear of A&E departments at this time of year unless they have a genuine emergency.
Vanessa Young, director of the Welsh NHS Confederation said: “Staff around the NHS in Wales are working hard to cope with increased demand for services coupled with looking after patients more complex care needs.
“This winter, health boards are encouraging people to help manage demand on emergency services by taking care of themselves and asking them to seek help from other local services before they make a trip to the A&E department. Do the simple things – make sure you get your repeat prescriptions before the holiday break so you don’t run out.
“If you are around someone with vomiting or diarrhoea, wash your hands frequently with soap and water.
“Visit your local pharmacy first for help with coughs and colds, ear aches, headaches and digestive problems over the festive period.”
Patients are being urged to visit the Choose Well website so they can assess which NHS service suits their need.
Data on Wales’ cancer treatment waiting times was also published at the same time as the A&E figures.
It revealed that about one in nine people did not start urgent cancer treatment on time.
The figures also showed that a total of 107 people faced delays in both the 31 and 62-day treatment targets over the course of October alone.
Macmillan says many cancer patients are facing a Christmas that is overshadowed by the anxiety of delayed treatments.
Richard Pugh, head of services for Macmillan Wales said: “A small percentage improvement for urgent treatments in this latest data should not disguise the fact that both urgent and non-urgent treatment targets were once again missed. “This has been the case with worrying consistency over the course of the last few years.
“While no-one can doubt the fantastic efforts of NHS staff as they try to meet an increasing demand for cancer care, at a time when budgets across our health services are increasingly tight, any delay in treatment can be heart-breaking for those involved.
“Across Wales we need to ensure that we create a sustainable cancer workforce, so that all cancer treatments can begin on time, for all cancer patients in Wales.
“The wait for cancer treatment to begin can be hard at any time of year, but it is terrible that so many people could have their Christmas overshadowed by the anxiety of not knowing when their treatment will begin.”