This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-18266775#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Long A&E waits 'rising steeply' | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| By Nick Triggle Health correspondent, BBC News | |
| Long waits in A&E units in England have started rising "steeply", hitting their highest level for seven years, an analysis suggests. | |
| The King's Fund report showed 4.2% of patients waited longer than four hours from January to March, compared with 3.4% in the same period last year. | The King's Fund report showed 4.2% of patients waited longer than four hours from January to March, compared with 3.4% in the same period last year. |
| It means long A&E waits are at their highest level since 2004. | It means long A&E waits are at their highest level since 2004. |
| The group said it was a sign hospitals were struggling, but ministers said the waits were within acceptable levels. | |
| The health service is allowed to let up to 5% of the 21m patients who visit A&E units each year wait longer than four hours. | The health service is allowed to let up to 5% of the 21m patients who visit A&E units each year wait longer than four hours. |
| This is built into the system to give doctors the freedom to prioritise the sickest patients. | This is built into the system to give doctors the freedom to prioritise the sickest patients. |
| So the proportion of patients waiting for over four hours is still within the target. | So the proportion of patients waiting for over four hours is still within the target. |
| What is more, that leeway has been increased from 2% in the past year. | What is more, that leeway has been increased from 2% in the past year. |
| 'Steep rise' | 'Steep rise' |
| The King's Fund, which used government figures for its analysis, accepted the rise seen over the last 12 months could be partly linked to prioritising of the most unwell. | The King's Fund, which used government figures for its analysis, accepted the rise seen over the last 12 months could be partly linked to prioritising of the most unwell. |
| But it also said it was indicative of the pressures in the health service - funding is being squeezed at a time when A&E units are having to treat more patients. | But it also said it was indicative of the pressures in the health service - funding is being squeezed at a time when A&E units are having to treat more patients. |
| Professor John Appleby, the chief economist of the King's Fund, said the "steep rise" should be a concern for the government. | Professor John Appleby, the chief economist of the King's Fund, said the "steep rise" should be a concern for the government. |
| Mike Clancy, president of the College of Emergency Medicine, said: "The A&E waiting times are a reflection of how the whole system is working. | |
| "The pressure on beds is increasing and this in part may account for the increasing reporting of overcrowding of departments." | |
| And shadow health secretary Andy Burnham added: "This report is highly embarrassing for a prime minister who said A&E waits would be one of the tests of his NHS re-organisation. | |
| "On Cameron's watch, the NHS is heading back to the bad old days of chaos in A&E and patients left on trolleys." | |
| But Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said the King's Fund was "wrong" to suggest it was a growing problem as the government had given hosptials greater flexibility over how quickly they treat patients. | But Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said the King's Fund was "wrong" to suggest it was a growing problem as the government had given hosptials greater flexibility over how quickly they treat patients. |