A&E warning at hospitals in Yorkshire as waiting times increase

The West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts (WYAAT) have issued a warning that patients should only attend A&E if they face “a genuine, life-threatening situation” as patients face waits of up to 12 hours in the region’s emergency departments.

 

Latest figures from the trusts show a 14.2 per cent rise in A&E attendance compared with the same period last year.

 

Dr Andrew Lockey, an emergency medicine consultant from Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, said demand was the worst he had ever seen.

 

WYAAT represents six NHS hospital trusts, Bradford Teaching Hospitals, Calderdale & Huddersfield, Airedale District Hospital, Harrogate and District, Mid Yorkshire Hospital and Leeds Teaching Hospitals.

 

Dr Lockey said people attending emergency departments for non-life threatening reasons were contributing to “overwhelming pressure” on services, adding “We are trying to deliver our best service to people and trying to treat emergency problems but it’s getting close to boiling point.”

 

He went on to say “We are able to deliver a safe service at the moment but if things increase any further then that will be in serious doubt.

 

“If you come to our department you’ll get immediately seen and assessed and that’s designed for people with immediate life-threatening problems.

 

“The flip side is if you don’t have an emergency problem, the likelihood is you will wait for several hours and be redirected to where you need to be.”

 

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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