More A&E patients waiting over 12 hours than ever
The number of A&E patients waiting more than 12 hours in hospital emergency care units has almost doubled in a month, to “potentially dangerous” levels; at 3,294 – the highest number since records began.
Under the Welsh Labour Government’s own target no patient should wait longer than 12 hours, and 95% of patients must be seen within four hours of arrival.
In January the number of patients seen within four hours also fell, by more than 3% – to 78.5%.
It means that more than 17 thousand people waited over four hours in A and E – across Wales – during December; a performance described as “totally unacceptable” by Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Health Darren Millar.
Shadow Health Minister, Darren Millar, said:
“Labour’s performance against their own NHS targets is totally unacceptable, and the state of the NHS in Wales shows that Labour just aren’t up to the job.
“Sadly, it’s patients and staff who are paying the price.
“In January more patients than ever faced waits of more than 12 hours in an emergency unit; a painful, worrying and potentially dangerous waits for treatment.
“Four hour waits in Welsh emergency departments also remain worryingly long and frankly Labour are running out of excuses for six years of consistently missing a crucial target.
“Just last month Wales’ leading emergency doctor warned that Welsh A&E units are ‘on the edge’, and it’s clear that – despite Labour’s claims – that health boards are struggling to cope with demand.”
