Two-thirds of A&E arrivals in Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals Trust seen within four hours – missing NHS target

Two-thirds of people who arrived at A&E in Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals Trust were seen within four hours last month, new figures show – missing the NHS recovery target.

The NHS standard is for 95% of patients to be seen within four hours. However, the Government announced a two-year plan to stabilise NHS services earlier this year which set a recovery target of 76% of patients being seen within four hours by March 2024.

NHS England figures show there were 25,491 visits to A&E at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust in October. Of them, 17,033 were seen within four hours – accounting for 67% of arrivals.

It means Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust fell significantly short of the recovery target and the NHS standard.

Across England, some 70% of patients were seen within four hours in A&Es last month, down from 72% in September. The figure hit a record low of 65% in December 2022.

The numbers also show 44,655 people waited over 12 hours in A&E departments from a decision to admit to actually being admitted, up 35% from September.

At Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, 2,280 patients waited longer than four hours, including 480 who were delayed by more than 12 hours.

Health think tank The King’s Fund, said this winter will be "bleak" for the NHS, particularly as it faces high levels of flu and Covid-19 in the coming weeks.

Danielle Jefferies, senior analyst at the think tank, added the number of people waiting more than four hours to be seen is "far from the performance standards patients would expect".

She said: "To get the sector back on track in the longer term and break the cycle of ‘bad’ winters, bold action by government and national leaders will be necessary."

"This includes action to make health and care a more attractive career, bolstering out-of-hospital care such as primary, community and social care services, and helping people live healthier lives through a focus on prevention."

NHS England said A&E department had the busiest October on record as 2.2 million people attended accident and emergency departments.

The overall number of attendances to A&E at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust in October was a rise of 4% on the 24,556 visits recorded during September, but 10% lower than the 28,414 patients seen in October 2022.

Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said: "Today’s figures are a stark reminder of the ongoing pressures the NHS is facing, particularly in emergency care with significant demand for ambulances and A&E, as we head into what we are expecting to be another challenging winter in the health service."

He added local areas are prioritising urgent and emergency care as strikes have had a significant impact on staff and patients.

"And as ever, the public can help play their part this winter by getting their flu and Covid-19 vaccinations when eligible," he added.