06/01/2015

A&E Dept Waiting Times Worst In Ten Years

Accident and Emergency departments have had their worst performance in ten years, according to new figures published today.

The figures from NHS England show that in the last three months, 92.6% of patients were seen within four hours, below the 95% target.

The performance is the worst figure since records began in 2004.

UNISON general secretary, Dave Prentis, said: "The NHS is now on the brink of disaster.

"It is outrageous that vulnerable patients are not being seen within the recommended timescale. Waiting longer in A&Es causes a huge amount of pain and distress to patients and their families.

"We warned months ago that the NHS was hugely stretched – those working in A&Es have spent much of the past four years living under the constant threat of services being cut, closed or reorganised.

"Staff morale is at all time low and despite this they are working every hour caring for patients during the most challenging winter in years.

"The Government must do everything it can to sort out all the underlying issues in the NHS – this includes the major dispute with trade unions over pay."

(CD/JP)

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