Ambulance response times for emergencies such as heart attacks and strokes are taking twice as long as they should, while three in 10 patients who arrive at A&E spend more than four hours waiting to get seen.
The BBC has been looking at another part of the system as well – the wait the seriously ill and injured face when A&E staff decide they need to stay in hospital.
Many of these are the elderly patients who will be on trolleys in corridors and in makeshift bays. In November, nearly 40% waited more than for hours for a bed to be found. Before the pandemic 25% did.
It is why the Royal College of Emergency Medicine is warning patients are at risk of severe harm.
But there are also some positive signs in the latest data – ambulance response times have shown a slight improvement on the month before.
Some of the work to improve community support and tackle queuing outside hospitals may be helping a little.
But with the worst of winter still to come no-one in the health service will be getting complacent.
Adverse events should be reported. Reporting forms and information can be found at yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk. Adverse events relating to CSL Seqirus products should also be reported to Seqirus UK Limited on 01748 828816.
1. Seqirus Data on File, August 2023. SREF–17994. 2. Adjuvanted Trivalent Influenza Vaccine (surface antigen, inactivated)▼ Summary of Product Characteristics. 3. Cell-based Trivalent Influenza Vaccine (surface antigen, inactivated)▼ Summary of Product Characteristics.
Be the first to comment