Target hit for waiting times

NORTHUMBRIA’S specialist emergency hospital has hit its performance target for A&E waiting times so far this winter for the first time in three years.

In quarter three of this year, from October to December, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust met the mark for 95% of emergency department patients being seen at its Cramlington site within four hours.

This followed above-target performances in quarters one and two this year, meaning an overall trend of improvement compared to 2017-18 and 2016-17.

The monthly figures have fluctuated, with December missing the 95% mark, but Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital

this is against a backdrop of having seen 10,000 extra patients so far in 2018-19 - a rise of 7.4%.

Northumberland County Council’s health and wellbeing committee meeting on Tuesday also heard during a winter planning update how ‘reset days’ in December had worked well for hospitals.

December 12 and 13 saw staff only focus on clinical work that would add value, resulting in bed occupancy dropping to 73%; nationally, a target of under 85% has been set this winter to try to help NHS trusts cope with additional winter pressures.

However, despite the good news, Northumbria Healthcare’s chief operating officer, Helen Ray, recognised that this winter has not been very severe yet. Plus, risks remain, including staff shortages, home-care provision and patient transfer, with work ongoing to mitigate them.

Nursing gaps remain a concern, with North Tyneside described as a “hotspot”, although staffing has always been at a level which is safe, while the length of stay at Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital, in Cramlington, is “drifting”.

Ambulance flows remains an issue too, with up to 130 a day visiting the Northumbria hospital.