Doctors’ warning over 12 hour waiting times in A&E department

New figures which are about to be released suggest that thousands of patients may have endured waits in A&E departments in excess of 12 hours for a bed within the first week of December.

Senior doctors warn that the report from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) based on a selection of emergency departments, paints a “shocking” picture over provision.

Dr Katherine Henderson, president of the RCEM, said “We are clearly in the worst state we’ve ever been in as we enter the true winter season.

“Norovirus and the ongoing pensions taxation issue will not have helped, but this decline has been long in the making.”

She added “Many patients are now getting often life changing news while stranded on a trolley in a corridor. This cannot be right, and we must strive to put an end to ‘corridor care’.

Dr Henderson went on to say that there are concerns that emergency rooms are struggling to cope and staff are challenged to deliver a standard of care they aspire to, adding “Emergency Departments are the NHS safety net and the safety net is buckling.”

An NHS spokesperson said “Our doctors, nurses and other staff are pulling out all the stops to look after more and more people, and a particular increase in patients who are older and have more complex illnesses.

“While hospitals will continue to open more beds as needed over the coming weeks, the public also have role to play going into winter, and can help NHS staff by getting their flu jab if they’re eligible, talking to a pharmacist for expert advice about winter bugs before they get worse, or using the NHS 111 phone or online service if they need medical help fast but aren’t sure what to do.”

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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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