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Hospital A&E waiting times in England rise by a third in November Hospital A&E waiting times in England rise by a third in November
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The number of people waiting longer than four hours in hospital accident and emergency departments in England rose by a third in November compared with the same period last year, according to official figures.The number of people waiting longer than four hours in hospital accident and emergency departments in England rose by a third in November compared with the same period last year, according to official figures.
NHS England data published on Thursday showed that 157,101 were kept waiting beyond the benchmark period in A&E in November, up from 117,644 in the same month in 2014. Attendances rose by 11,115 (0.9%) year-on-year. NHS England data published on Thursday showed that 157,101 people were kept waiting beyond the benchmark period in A&E in November, up from 117,644 in the same month in 2014. Attendances rose by 11,115 (0.9%) year-on-year.
The proportion of patients being seen within four hours at hospital A&E departments in November was 87.1%, below the 95% target.The proportion of patients being seen within four hours at hospital A&E departments in November was 87.1%, below the 95% target.
Cancer referral and ambulance times were also missed and the number of delayed transfers was the second highest since recording began in August 2010. The statistics prompted Labour to call it the NHS’s worst November ever, while the Nuffield Trust think tank said they did not bode well for the remainder of the winter. Cancer referral and ambulance times were also missed and the number of delayed transfers was the second highest since recording began in August 2010. The statistics prompted Labour to call it the NHS’s worst November ever, while the Nuffield Trust thinktank said they did not bode well for the remainder of the winter.
Nigel Edwards, chief executive of the Nuffield Trust, said failure to meet the targets “now seems to have become the norm rather than the exception”.Nigel Edwards, chief executive of the Nuffield Trust, said failure to meet the targets “now seems to have become the norm rather than the exception”.
He added: “These new figures are particularly worrying given that they only cover November, when the weather was exceptionally mild and winter had not even properly begun – the fact that there have been such dips in performance so early in the season does not leave the health service in a good position to cope with the rest of winter.”He added: “These new figures are particularly worrying given that they only cover November, when the weather was exceptionally mild and winter had not even properly begun – the fact that there have been such dips in performance so early in the season does not leave the health service in a good position to cope with the rest of winter.”
Related: Overwhelmed hospitals sent A&E patients away 89 times in five weeksRelated: Overwhelmed hospitals sent A&E patients away 89 times in five weeks
Edwards said the issue of delayed transfers was rapidly becoming the biggest problem many NHS trusts face. The number of patients delayed in hospital on the last Thursday in November (5,600) was the highest since records began in 2010. The number of patients waiting longer than 62 days to start first treatment for cancer was up 14% year-on-year, with 83.5% starting treatment within 62 days, below the target of 85%.Edwards said the issue of delayed transfers was rapidly becoming the biggest problem many NHS trusts face. The number of patients delayed in hospital on the last Thursday in November (5,600) was the highest since records began in 2010. The number of patients waiting longer than 62 days to start first treatment for cancer was up 14% year-on-year, with 83.5% starting treatment within 62 days, below the target of 85%.
In total, 1,729,292 diagnostic tests were undertaken in November, a 4.9% year-on year increase, adjusted for working days. But the number of patients waiting longer than six weeks for a diagnostic test was up 36% and the number waiting longer than 13 weeks was up 118%.In total, 1,729,292 diagnostic tests were undertaken in November, a 4.9% year-on year increase, adjusted for working days. But the number of patients waiting longer than six weeks for a diagnostic test was up 36% and the number waiting longer than 13 weeks was up 118%.
The NHS says the long-term trend was of greater volumes of both urgent and emergency care and elective activity.The NHS says the long-term trend was of greater volumes of both urgent and emergency care and elective activity.
Heidi Alexander, shadow health secretary, said: “There is a crisis in A&E, elderly patients are stuck in hospital because of a lack of care in the community, and thousands of people are waiting more than 18 weeks for operations.Heidi Alexander, shadow health secretary, said: “There is a crisis in A&E, elderly patients are stuck in hospital because of a lack of care in the community, and thousands of people are waiting more than 18 weeks for operations.
“The reality is that this dramatic deterioration in patient care is a direct consequence of this government’s policies. They cut older people’s care in the home, meaning hospitals have become dangerously full, and cuts to nurse training places have forced hospitals to drain resources hiring expensive agency staff. The NHS is being badly let down by this Tory government and it is patients who are paying the price.”“The reality is that this dramatic deterioration in patient care is a direct consequence of this government’s policies. They cut older people’s care in the home, meaning hospitals have become dangerously full, and cuts to nurse training places have forced hospitals to drain resources hiring expensive agency staff. The NHS is being badly let down by this Tory government and it is patients who are paying the price.”
The government prefers to measure the target for 95% of people being seen within four hours against all emergency departments, not just those in hospitals. By that measure, 91.4% of patients were treated within four hours in November, compared with 93.5% in the same period in 2014.The government prefers to measure the target for 95% of people being seen within four hours against all emergency departments, not just those in hospitals. By that measure, 91.4% of patients were treated within four hours in November, compared with 93.5% in the same period in 2014.
Richard Barker, interim national director of commissioning operations for NHS England, said: “These figures for last November show frontline staff treating record numbers of patients, with particularly large increases in the number of patients getting diagnostic tests, emergency ambulance callouts, and using the NHS 111 service. We continue to treat more than nine out of 10 patients A&E patients within four hours, probably the best performance of any major western country.” Richard Barker, interim national director of commissioning operations for NHS England, said: “These figures for last November show frontline staff treating record numbers of patients, with particularly large increases in the number of patients getting diagnostic tests, emergency ambulance callouts, and using the NHS 111 service. We continue to treat more than nine out of 10 A&E patients within four hours, probably the best performance of any major western country.”