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A&E crisis plans 'not good enough' A&E crisis plans 'not good enough'
(about 5 hours later)
The plans put in place to relieve the pressure on A&E units in England are not good enough, MPs say.The plans put in place to relieve the pressure on A&E units in England are not good enough, MPs say.
The Health Select Committee said it had been given "confusing" and "contradictory" information about what was being done.The Health Select Committee said it had been given "confusing" and "contradictory" information about what was being done.
It prompted the cross-party group to question how prepared the NHS would be for next winter.It prompted the cross-party group to question how prepared the NHS would be for next winter.
The report comes after the NHS missed its four-hour waiting-time target in the first three months of this year.The report comes after the NHS missed its four-hour waiting-time target in the first three months of this year.
The MPs said a combination of staffing problems and a lack of alternatives along with rising attendances were among the main factors for the problems.The MPs said a combination of staffing problems and a lack of alternatives along with rising attendances were among the main factors for the problems.
Their evidence found just 17% of hospitals had the recommended level of consultant cover, while problems with discharging patients and a lack of beds at times meant the flow of patients through the system was disrupted.Their evidence found just 17% of hospitals had the recommended level of consultant cover, while problems with discharging patients and a lack of beds at times meant the flow of patients through the system was disrupted.
'Flying blind''Flying blind'
In the long-term, the MPs urged NHS medical director Prof Sir Bruce Keogh, who is leading a review of urgent and emergency care, to look at the weaknesses across the rest of the health service. In the long-term, the MPs urged NHS England's medical director Prof Sir Bruce Keogh, who is leading a review of urgent and emergency care, to look at the weaknesses across the rest of the health service.
They said there was much more the primary care system, which includes GPs, urgent care centres and minor injury units, could do to prevent unnecessary visits to A&E.They said there was much more the primary care system, which includes GPs, urgent care centres and minor injury units, could do to prevent unnecessary visits to A&E.
The MPs also suggested ambulances could be treating more patients at the scene to reduce the number of transfers to hospital, while the new 111 non-emergency phone number needed to get better at offering advice.The MPs also suggested ambulances could be treating more patients at the scene to reduce the number of transfers to hospital, while the new 111 non-emergency phone number needed to get better at offering advice.
But the strongest criticism was reserved for the plans that have been put in place to deal with the pressures being felt
Earlier this year NHS England announced urgent care boards would be created to form action plans and release money to combat the difficulties being faced.Earlier this year NHS England announced urgent care boards would be created to form action plans and release money to combat the difficulties being faced.
But in the evidence sessions with senior people in the health service, the MPs were left unclear whether they were voluntary or compulsory, temporary or permanent.But in the evidence sessions with senior people in the health service, the MPs were left unclear whether they were voluntary or compulsory, temporary or permanent.
The MPs also highlighted differences in data they had been given about the scale of the problems, with vastly different impressions given of delayed discharges from hospital and the increases seen in attendances at A&E.The MPs also highlighted differences in data they had been given about the scale of the problems, with vastly different impressions given of delayed discharges from hospital and the increases seen in attendances at A&E.
Health committee chairman Stephen Dorrell said: "The system is 'flying blind' without adequate information about the nature of the demand being placed upon it."Health committee chairman Stephen Dorrell said: "The system is 'flying blind' without adequate information about the nature of the demand being placed upon it."
He said each area needed to have a plan place by the end of September to ensure they were ready for the winter.He said each area needed to have a plan place by the end of September to ensure they were ready for the winter.
"The committee is mindful of pressures which will build and is concerned that current plans lack sufficient urgency," he added."The committee is mindful of pressures which will build and is concerned that current plans lack sufficient urgency," he added.
Patients Association chief executive Katherine Murphy said: "How much more evidence does the government and NHS England need before they take notice?Patients Association chief executive Katherine Murphy said: "How much more evidence does the government and NHS England need before they take notice?
"The system is under increasing pressure and is coming apart at the seams, the time to act is now.""The system is under increasing pressure and is coming apart at the seams, the time to act is now."
A spokesman for NHS England said it recognised there was work to be done and action plans would be in place by the autumn.A spokesman for NHS England said it recognised there was work to be done and action plans would be in place by the autumn.
"The committee has raised some key issues," he added."The committee has raised some key issues," he added.