A&E where just 40% are seen in 4 hours
THE worst hospital in England for A&E waits has been named.
Last month only 40% of patients at Blackpool Victoria were treated within four hours, massively below the 95% national target.
And 75 had to wait over 12 hours for a bed at hospitals in the area.
The dire figures come after data yesterday showed that, nationwide in December, 300,000 A&E patients queued for more than four hours.
Only 77.3% were seen within the target time – the worst figure ever.
Fylde Coast Health Economy, which is responsible for Blackpool Victoria, said it was sorry if “severe and sustained pressure” over Christmas and the New Year “meant patients faced extended waits”.
It added: “The situation has now improved and we would like to thank our staff for their efforts during this extremely challenging period.”
Yesterday PM Theresa May and Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt were struggling to get a grip on the winter crisis, which is being made worse by a surge in scarlet fever.
Over the past six weeks 2,507 cases have been reported in England and Wales, double the number in the same period last year.
It mainly affects five to 15-yearolds, who suffer a sore throat, fever, headaches and a rash. Most cases have no long-term effects but it can lead to serious complications.
Jo McCarthy of Public Health Wales said: “It is important that people are vigilant and aware of the symptoms.” Meanwhile, new data shows that almost a quarter of spinal injury patients stuck in specialist hospitals are there because of disputes over whether councils or the NHS should pay for equipment needed to allow them to live at home.