Deterioration in A and E waiting times
Waiting times at Wales’ accident and emergency departments got worse last month, in spite of an overall fall in the number of attendances by patients.
Two thousand fewer people visited Welsh emergency departments in August than in July, according to NHS Wales stats published today, yet just 83.6 per cent of patients were seen within four hours, compared to 85.6 per cent in the previous month.
Labour’s target of 95 per cent has not been met since 2009.
The number of patients waiting more than 12 hours also increased last month, jumping from 1,181 to 1,220.
Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Health, Darren Millar AM, said:
“Labour’s consistently poor performance on emergency department waiting times is a national disgrace.
“Patients deserve better and, given times are already lengthening, I fear for the coming winter months, which always result in extra pressures.
“Hardworking frontline staff are still being hit by Labour’s record-breaking NHS budget cuts and the enormous strain on resources that have resulted from them.
“We need an urgent plan of action from Ministers to prevent further deterioration."
