The Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) is calling for action after new performance figures for Wales in January show Emergency Departments (ED) had their worst month on record.
Performance reached record lows across the board, with the highest proportion of patients ever waiting for more than four, eight and 12 hours to be seen, treated and discharged. It was also the worst ever January in terms of the number of people waiting. The College warns this highlights the urgent need to prevent the increase in patient stress and delay in care.
The new statistics show that nearly half (49.3%) of patients in the EDs waited for four hours or longer, and one in six (17.5%) waited for 12 hours or longer.
Other statistics show that 11,367 people waited for 12 hours or longer, nearly four times (a 278% increase) the figure for the same month 10 years ago (3,006 people). Yet attendances have increased by just 11% in the same period.
- The percentage of patients waiting for four hours of more is 49.3%, which is an increase from last January’s figure of 44.0%
- The percentage of patients waiting for 12 hours or more was 17.5%, and an increase of last year’s percentage of 16.8%
- There were 61,876 delayed days in hospital of patients who were medically fit to leave – equivalent to 169 years.
Dr Rob Perry, RCEM Vice President for Wales, said:
“January’s data shows the harsh reality of the situation in our EDs, and the impact it is having on patients, despite the best efforts of staff, who continue to go above and beyond – not just in January but all year round.
“Our members will always do their best to provide all patients with the care they need, but the systemic problems that are resulting in lengthy waiting times and corridor care only make this difficult task more challenging. Long waits for patients increase frustrations all round, but more seriously, put lives at risk.
“To resolve the crisis in EDs, the Welsh Government needs to make a public commitment to end overcrowding and improve the flow of patients across hospital pathways. It must also ensure enough consultant staffing, and improving IT systems to reduce the administrative burden on staff and reduce clinical errors.
“Only by tackling these issues, will we ensure that EDs can continue to provide the safe levels of care they want to and that their patients deserve.”
