‘We must, and will, improve’

The trust’s deputy chief executive told the meeting she wants close to 90% of patients in A&E departments and minor injuries units seen within four hours by the end of next month.

Liz Shutler has set an ambitious target of 87.7% as patients at the trust’s two emergency departments endure some of the longest waits in the country.

In July the trust recorded the worst performance in Britain, with just 70% of patients seen within the four-hour NHS benchmark.

The situation only slightly improved over the next two months, but the recruitment of 10 new emergency doctors, with “seven more in the pipeline”, is expected to see a more dramatic turnaround.

A £600,000 project to increase space at the A&E departments in Ashford and Margate is also near completion, while access to onsite GPS and mental health teams has been extended.

Details of the improvement plan were released last month, with the trust already reporting a better performance.

In the first two weeks of October, 73.3% of patients at A&E and minor injuries departments were seen within four hours, rising to 76.1% in the second fortnight and 78.7% on Monday.

Dr Anil Verma, an emergency department consultant who has recently joined the trust as medical director for urgent care and long-term conditions, said: “Staff across the hospitals and wider NHS have been working extremely hard to improve standards for patients.

“We are just at the beginning of our improvement plan, but the early signs of progress are very encouraging.

“Behind every statistic is a patient, and that’s why everyone is working so hard to achieve higher standards. We want to make sure patients don’t wait longer than they need to, and make sure all patients are treated in an appropriate environment.”

Simon Perks, accountable officer for the Canterbury and Coastal CCGS, told the meeting people can help by avoiding unnecessary visits to A&E.

“We’re making sure people who need care quickly get that and monitoring these waiting times,” he said.

“Minor injuries units are wellused but could be used a lot more. There’s a lot they can do; sprains and strains, wounds, minor burns, insect and animal bites, and more.”

“We definitely must, and will, improve.”