A&E Waiting Times Falling

Figures released today from the Department of Health have shown a continued improvement in emergency care waiting times in Northern Ireland.

Validated figures for emergency care waiting times for July 2010 showed that 86.3% patients were either treated and discharged or admitted within four hours of their arrival in an Emergency Care Department.

This represents an improvement, compared to 85.6% in June 2010 and 82.8% in May 2010.

The figures also show a further drop in the number of patients who waited longer than 12 hours across all Emergency Care Departments.

A total of 126 patients waited longer than 12 hours across all emergency care departments in July 2010, compared to 209 in June 2010 and 661 in May 2010.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety said: "This continued improvement is encouraging and healthcare staff are to be commended for their hard work in delivering high quality services to patients and the public.

"However, limited resources continue to pose a significant challenge and the Minister has continually stated his commitment to pressing for much needed additional funding to invest in our health service to meet rising demand.

"Trusts are expected to continue their efforts to ensure that available resources are used as effectively and efficiently as possible in the drive to improve waiting times."

To help ensure continued improvement in waiting times, the spokesperson again stressed the importance of patients availing of the most appropriate service in an emergency situation.

He said: "Cuts, bruises and sprains are generally regarded as minor injuries and are not normally considered to be emergencies.

"Minor injuries services are now widely available across Northern Ireland with units at the Tyrone County, Mid Ulster, Whiteabbey, South Tyrone, Armagh, Ards and Bangor hospitals and the medical staff who work in these units are able to deal with the vast majority of conditions seen in A&E departments."

(BMcC/GK)