March marked the busiest month on record for A&E departments in England, with 2.35 million attendances. This surpasses the previous high, in December 2022. The total for the year up to March was also a record at 26.2 million. While there were slight improvements in waiting times, cancer response, and ambulance response times, these often fell short of NHS targets. Only 74.2% of patients were seen within four hours, missing the interim target of 76%. The number of patients waiting over 12 hours decreased from February, but remains high. For urgent cancer referrals, 75% of cases were diagnosed or ruled out within 28 days, yet the wait for first treatment after a cancer referral increased. Healthcare professionals are overstretched, highlighting the need for a comprehensive cancer strategy. Ambulance response times improved slightly but still exceeded the target times. The data coincide with a period of strikes and increased scrutiny of NHS performance. Research revealed that nearly half of NHS staff are considering work outside the health service; stress and workload are key factors.
March busiest month for A&Es - 2.35 million attendees
Written by David Fletcher 11 Apr 2024Additional Info
- Pray: for the staff, doctors and specialists in the NHS, working under massive pressure. Pray for a release of necessary resources to handle the backlogs and the growing demands. (Psalm 147:3)
- More: news.sky.com/story/march-busiest-month-on-record-for-ae-departments-with-235-million-attendances-13112790
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