Huddersfield hospital patients now being treated in record times

Nov 23 2009 by Neil Atkinson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

HUDDERSFIELD accident and emergency patients are being treated in record times.

More than 98% of those visiting A&E departments at the Royal Infirmary and Calderdale Royal Hospital are being seen within the Government’s four hour target.

The figures come after a national report highlighted a postcode lottery in hospital A&E waiting times across the country.

The study – by the NHS Information Centre – showed 75% of patients in A&E were seen and treated or admitted within three hours – considerably quicker than the Government’s four-hour target.

But the number of patients leaving A&E per minute increases as the four-hour deadline approaches.

The rush has led to suggestions that A&E patients are being admitted to hospitals to help health bosses meet Government targets.

National figures show there is a peak in the number of people admitted to a ward in the 10 minutes before the four-hour deadline is up.

A shocking 66% of patients are admitted in the last 10 minutes, compared with 21% overall.

Today Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust confirmed it did not take part in the study and was unable to provide data examining the time frames of A&E admission.

Andrew Lockey, clinical director for A&E at the trust said the hospital’s waiting time success was down to the hard work of staff.