Record numbers of patients faced four-hour A&E waits in England in October

Latest NHS England figures show that a record number of people had a long wait to be seen in A&E departments in October, with over 550,000 waiting for longer than four hours in major A&E units, up from 492,000 in September, the highest proportion on record.

 

The Society of Acute Medicine warned the situation was “unacceptable poor” and likely to get worse.

 

The latest monthly data from NHS England showed hospitals coming under increasing pressure ahead of the busy winter period.

 

The proportion of all patients in A&E and minor injury units being seen, discharged or admitted within four hours fell to 69 per cent in October, down from 71 per cent in September, and well below the 95 per cent NHS target.

 

Professor Sir Stephen Powis, medical director at NHS England, said “There is no doubt October has been a challenging month for staff who are now facing a tripledemic of Covid, flu and record pressure on emergency services with more people attending A&E or requiring the most urgent ambulance call-out than any other October.

 

“Pressure on emergency services remains high as a result of more than 13,000 beds taken up each day by people who no longer need to be in hospital.”

 

Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence claims, providing support and guidance after life-changing events.  Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.

 

If you believe that you or a relative may have been injured as a result of clinical/medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our medical negligence solicitors on the freephone number below.

 

Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

 

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