Data & Statistics

Performance Figures

+ England

England

April 2022 performance figures

There were 1.31m type 1 attendances, and 353k type 1 admissions.
The 4-hour target stood at 59.0%, the second-lowest figure after March 2022 (58.6%)
There were 132k four-hour DTAs, and 24k twelve-hour DTAs

Attendances and admissions:

There were 1,313,430 type 1 attendances at EDs in April 2022. This represents a 4.2% increase compared with April 2021, but a 1.3% decrease compared with pre-pandemic levels (i.e. April 2019).
59.0% of patients were admitted, transferred, or discharged within 4 hours from arrival – this is a 0.4 percentage point increase from March 2022 (58.6%), but a 19.8 percentage point decrease from April 2021 (78.8%).
Type 1 admissions stood at 353,015 (15,997 per day) – this was a decrease of 3.6% from March (16,590 admissions per day), and 10.3% lower than April 2019 (17,840 per day).
The percentage of attendances admitted was 26.9%, 0.5 percentage points higher than March 2022, but substantially lower than April 2021 (30.6%).
The number of patients waiting more than 12 hours from the decision to admit to admission stood at 24,138, the highest figure on record, and 4515% more than April 2021 (523).
- The 79,606 12-hour DTAs recorded so far in 2022 is just 3,250 fewer than the total recorded between August 2010 and December 2021 (82,856).
131,905 patients experienced DTA waits of at least 4 hours. This is the second highest figure on record, and a 170.7% increase from April 2021.
As a percentage of admissions, delays to admission stood at 27.5%, surpassing the previous highest figure set in March (26.5%).

+ Scotland

Scotland

March 2022:

Performance

There were 111,996 attendances at major A&E services in Scotland.
68.4% of attendances at major A&E services were seen and resulted in a subsequent admission, transfer or discharge within 4 hours.
11,017 patients spent more than 8 hours in an A&E department.
4,128 patients spent more than 12 hours in an A&E department.
23.9% of attendances led to an admission to hospital

DTOC

In March 2022, there were 53,600 days spent in hospital by people whose discharge was delayed.
This is an increase of 58% compared with the number of delayed days in March 2021 (33,840).
In March 2022, the average number of beds occupied per day due to delayed discharges was 1,729, which is more consistent with pre-pandemic figures. This is a 1% increase compared to February 2022 when the daily average was 1,704.

Cancelled Electives

The total number of planned operations across NHSScotland during March 2022 was 22,000. This represents an increase of 17% from 18,802 in February 2022 and is 23.9% higher than the number planned in March 2021. When compared to February 2020, prior to the pandemic, there were 20.4% fewer operations planned, down from 27,645.
In March 2022, 2,109 operations, or 9.6% of all planned operations, were cancelled the day before or on the day the patient was due to be treated. This rate is the highest since the onset of the pandemic and is comparable to pre-pandemic levels

+ Wales

Wales

Summary for March 2022

In March 2022 there were 88,599 attendances across all emergency care facilities in Wales, 20.5% more than in February 2022 (73,518 total attendances) and the highest number of total attendances since August 2021.
There were 65,930 attendances to Major EDs, 17.5% more than in February (56,101 Major ED attendances), and the highest number of Major ED attendances since October 2021.
55.2% of Major ED patients were admitted, transferred, or discharged within 4 hours from arrival, a new record low, and 4% lower than the previous month. This figure is 15.2 percentage points lower than March 2021.
- This means that in March, two in every 4.4 patients were delayed by four hours or more.
16,955 patients were delayed by 8 hours or more in a Major ED, equivalent to one 3.8 patients. This is 19.6% more than the previous month and again the highest number of such waits on record.
Waits of twelve hours or more also saw a new record low. In March 2022, 10,807 patients spent 12 hours or more in an ED, 18.9% more than in February.

91.82% of all general and acute beds were occupied in March, 0.4% more than the previous month. This figure is 9.53 percentage points higher than in March 2021.
- In March 2022, the maximum percentage of bed occupancy recorded was 93.43% and the minimum level of occupancy was 89.83%, well above the 85% recommendation to ensure patient flow and hospital capacity.

In context

For the year 2021/22 there were 1,011,904 total attendances across all emergency care facilities in Wales, 32.2% more than 2020/21 and 3% less than pre-pandemic attendances in 2019/20.
There were 769,458 attendances to Major EDs in Wales throughout the year, 22.5% more than in 2020/21, and 6.4% less than in 2019/20.
This was the worst year on record for 4-, 8- and 12-hour metrics.
A yearly average of 59.9% of patients were admitted, transferred, or discharged within four hours from arrival.
- This is 15.17 percentage points lower than 2020/21 and 10.25 percentage points lower than 2019/20.
- Wales’s four-hour performance rate started on a high relative for the year and ended at an all-time record low. The best four-hour performance for the year was April 2021 which saw 67.90% of patients spend less than the target time in a Major ED, 27.10 percentage points below target performance. 55.2% of Major ED patients spent less than the target time in March 2022.
A total of 164,892 patients spent 8 hours or more in a Major ED, a 120.2% increase on the previous year and a 40.4% increase on 2019/20.
A total of 94,699 patients spent 12 hours or more in a Major ED.
- The number of patients delayed by 12 hours or more saw the most significancy year on year increases, with a 139.5% increase on the previous year and 51.3% increase on 2019/20.
Average bed occupancy for the year was 99.04%.
- Comparable to four-hour performance, Wales’s bed occupancy rate started on a high and ended on a low. April 2021 had an average occupancy rate of 84.19% and was the only month in 2021/22 that had an average occupancy rate lower than 85%. March 2022 had the highest level of occupancy for the year and was the highest occupancy rate recorded since April 2020.

+ Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland

UEC Winter Situation Report

29th November 2021 – 3rd April 2022

Weeks 1 – 18

Nb. In 2017-18, 2018-19, and 2019-20 UEC winter situation reports reporting finished in week 13 so there is no data to compare to for these years from week 14 onwards.

Week 18 Summary

There were 79,548 ambulance arrivals, 0.1% less than the previous week.
26.9% of ambulances were delayed by 30 mins or more, the worst figure on record. Despite ambulance arrivals going down, delays continued to increase.
12.5% of ambulances were delayed by more than 60 minutes, the worst figure on record.
The number of beds open in Type 1 Acute Trusts was 95,923, a weekly increase of 0.64%.
Bed occupancy stood at 92.7%.
There was a daily average of 44,451 patients in Type 1 Acute Trusts for 7 days or more, a weekly increase of 1.1%. This is the highest number of patients in hospital for 7 days or more, for this reporting period.
There was a daily average of 17,641 long stay patients in hospital for 21 days or more.
A daily average of 6,823 long stay patients in hospital for 21 days or more no longer met the criteria to reside, equating to 38.7%. Only 9.7% of these patients were discharged.
On an average day there were 70,480 staff absences, of which 28,560 were Covid-19 related.
There was a daily average of 3 diverts a day.
There were no A&E closures

Annual Summary

A total of 324,486 ambulances were delayed in total, an 89.8% increase when compared to the previous winter.
An average of 21.6% of ambulances were delayed by more than 30 minutes, and an average of 8.9% were delayed by more than 60 minutes.
Average bed occupancy for the year was 91.9%, 6% more than the year before.
This winter there was a daily average of 43,808 patients in hospital for 7 days or more, the worst figure since winter 2017/18 and 23.91% higher than 2020-21.
A daily average of 25,669 patients were in hospital for 14 days or more, the worst figure on record for this metric and 34.74% higher than in 2020-21.
A daily average of 16,570 patients were in hospital for 21 days or more, the worst figure since winter 2017/18 and 45.02% higher than 2020-21.
On an average day this winter,6,143 patients in hospital for 21 days or more no longer met the criteria to reside. Of these, an average of 10.8% were discharged and 89.2% remained in hospital.
In terms of general discharges, an average of 20,560 patients no longer met the criteria to reside in hospital and an average of 57.4% of these patients remained in hospital, equating to 11,656 patients on average.
There was a daily average of 66,943 staff absences. An average of 35.1% of these were COVID related.

Ambulance Arrivals and Delays

For the week ending 3rd of April, there were 79,548 ambulance arrivals, 0.1% less than the previous week.
- 21,432 ambulances experienced delays, an increase of 1.8% on the week before which saw 21,051 ambulances delayed.
- 26.9% of ambulances were delayed by 30 mins or more
- The average number of delays for this winter has continued to creep up, increasing by 2.1% in week 18 of reporting.
- 12.5% of ambulances were delayed by more than 60 minutes, an 8.5% increase on the previous week, setting a new record high for this reporting period.

This year’s data in context paints a picture of increasing pressure despite decreases in demand. Winter 2021/22 was a record breaker as we saw:
- In weeks 17 and 18 of reporting more than a quarter of all ambulances were delayed by 30 minutes or more. The week commencing 21st March, 26.4% of ambulances were delayed by 30 mins or more. The week commencing 28th March this increased to 26.9% ambulances experiencing delays, the worst figure on record.
- Week 18 2021-22 also saw the lowest number of weekly ambulance arrivals on record (79,548 arrivals), the highest number of ambulances delayed on record (21,432), and the highest proportion of ambulances delayed by more than 60 minutes (12.5%).

For the whole winter period:
- A total of 324,486 ambulances were delayed in total, an 89.8% increase when compared to the previous winter.
- An average of 21.6% of ambulances were delayed by more than 30 minutes, representing a 103.1% increase when compared to the previous winter<
- An average of 8.9% of ambulances were delayed by more than 60 minutes. This represents an 213.4% increase when compared to winter 2020/21.
- Ambulance arrivals totalled 1,503,065, a 6.2% decrease when compared to the previous winter.

Bed Occupancy

The week ending 3rd April there was a total number of 95,923 beds open in Type 1 Acute Trusts (adults and paediatric beds combined), 0.64% more than the previous week (95,310 beds open).
- Occupancy stood at 92.7%, 0.6% more than the previous week.

This winter we saw bed occupancy levels bounce back to pre-COVID levels of occupancy.
- Average bed occupancy stood at 91.9% a 6% increase on bed occupancy in 2020-21 which saw average occupancy at 86.7%.
  - 2020-21’s bed occupancy was 7.8% lower than the year before, which saw 94.0% bed occupancy.
- Though occupancy was not the highest on record (2017/18 holds this title with an average of 94.4% occupancy) both the average and the minimum level of average weekly occupancy (86.2%) were higher than the recommended maximum level of occupancy.
- Maximum weekly average of bed occupancy for 2021-22 was 93.5%.

Long Stays

In the week ending 3rd April there was a daily average of 45,451 patients in Type 1 Acute Trusts for 7 days or more, a 1.1% increase on the week before.
- This is the highest number of patients in hospital for 7 days or more for this reporting period, and the highest number since winter 2017/18.
There was a daily average of 27,233 patients in hospital for 14 days or more, the highest figure on record for this metric.
A daily average of 17,641 patients were in hospital for 21 days or more, the second highest figure for this year.
A daily average of 6,823 long stay patients in hospital for 21 days or more no longer met the criteria to reside, an increase of 2.3% on the week before.
This equates to 38.7% or one in 2.6 patients.

Of these patients, 9.7% were discharged on an average day equating to 664 patients. This means that a daily average of 6,159 patients remained in hospital in no longer met the criteria to reside, an increase of 2.6% on the previous week.

This winter, an average of 43,808 patients were in hospital for 7 days and an average of 16,570 patients were in hospital for 21 days or more, 23.91% and 45.02% more than the year before respectively.

These are the highest yearly averages since winter 2017/18 which saw an average of 44,785 patients in hospital for 7 days or more and 17,335 patients in hospital for 21 days or more, prompting the then Secretary of State to announce a National Ambition to reduce long stay patients, with subsequent campaigns and programmes to reduce long stays and improve the safe and timely discharge of patients.
A daily average of 6,143 patients in hospital for 21 days or more didn’t meet the criteria to reside, equating to one in every 2.69 patients.
An average of one in nine of these patients was discharged from hospital.

Discharges

A daily average of 21,804 patients in hospital were ready for discharge, a 0.4% increase on the week before which saw 21,720 patients ready for discharge. This is a new record high for this reporting period.
- Of these patients, an average of 12,872 remained in hospital. This is a 1.8% increase on the week before, and the new highest figure for this reporting period.
- This equates to 59.6% a 1.2% increase on the previous week.

This winter, an average of 20,560 patients no longer met the criteria to reside in hospital and an average of 57.4% of these patients remained in hospital, equating to 11,656 patients on average.
- The ‘best’ performance for this period was still poor, as more than half of patients ready to be discharged remained in hospital (53.2%).
- Week 6 saw the worst discharge performance as 61.2% of patients ready to be discharged remained in hospital, which saw also the week that saw the highest levels of staff absences for this winter.

Staff Absences

On an average day in the week ending 3rd April, there were 70,480 staff absences, a 2.3% increase on the week before which saw 68,885 staff absences.
28,560 of these absences were COVID related, an increase of 3.6% on the previous week which saw an average of 27,571 COVID related absences a day.
- When compared with the week ending 5th December when reporting began, there has been a 139% increase in the prevalence of COVID related absences, and a 10% decrease in staff absences for any other reason.
This was the first year that NHSE reported on staff absences.
Figures were broken down into total staff absences recorded in a day, and COVID related absences, whether through sickness or self-isolation.
Data was reported at trust level and aggregated in daily summaries.
As the COVID-19 variant Omicron spread in the UK, we were able to track the impact on staff absences.
For the whole winter period there was a daily average of 66,943 staff absences. An average of 35.1% were COVID related.
The first week of reporting, the week beginning 29th November, there was a daily average of 58,472 staff absences. 11,957 of these were COVID-19 related, equating to 20.4%.
By week six of reporting, the week beginning 3rd January, COVID-19 related absences had increased by 283% with a daily average of 45,736 COVID-19 related absences, equating to 51.7% of all absences. Total absences for Week 6 were the highest for Winter 2021-22, with a daily average of 88,516 absences.
Since the week commencing 13th December (Week 3), the percentage of total staff absences related to COVID has not dropped below 26.5%.
From Week 7 – Week 14, COVID related absences incrementally declined, averaging a week on week decline of 12.5%. In Week 14 there was a daily average of 14,822 COVID related absences, the lowest figure in 12 weeks of reporting.
From Week 15 – Week 17 COVID-related absences have markedly increased, going up by 18.6% in Week 15, 31.6% in Week 16 and 19.2% in Week 17.

Regional Staff Absences

The Midlands experienced the highest number of total daily absences across the reporting period, averaging 14,122 absences. The region’s highest number of total absences recorded was 19,177, its lowest was 11,928 total staff absences.
The East of England experienced the lowest number of total absences, but the highest proportion of COVID related absences, averaging 38.6% across the reporting period.

A&E Closures and Diverts

There was a daily average of 3 diverts a day from Type 1 Acute Trusts, equalling no change on the week before.
There were no A&E closures.

Data & Statistics

Data & Statistics

Datasets

Performance Figures

England

Scotland

Wales

Northern Ireland

UEC Winter Situation Report

Snapshot Surveys

Data & Statistics

Data & Statistics

Datasets

Performance Figures

England

Scotland

Wales

Northern Ireland

UEC Winter Situation Report

Snapshot Surveys

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